When a police officer pulls you over and suspects you of driving under the influence (DUI) there are certain rules of thumb to follow (drunk or not) in order to give yourself the best shot at not being arrested; or in other words not give police a reason (probable cause) to charge you. So without further ado 3 things you shouldn’t do when suspected of drunk driving:
- Admit your guilt – Even if you feel you’ve done nothing wrong, don’t tell the office you’ve had a couple. When asked if you’ve been drinking simply say no. A perfect example of a suspect violating this rule here.
- Run – Running from police works about .01% of the time. If you’ve been caught or wrongfully accused it’s ALWAYS best to comply with police, remain silent and contact a DUI attorney ASAP. This video realistically demonstrates violation of this rule.
- Perform field sobriety tests if you think you are unable -Commonly and understandably people think they are obligated (in order to avoid an automatic penalty) to perform field sobriety tests (e.g. singing the alphabet backwards) for police upon request, but this is not true. This does not include chemical tests such as a breathalyzer, but there is no penalty for refusing a field sobriety test. Obviously this man didn’t follow this rule.
By following these 3 simple rules when suspected of DUI you may avoid being arrested. If police decide to charge you regardless, you, at least, haven’t strengthened the case against you.
This post is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice.
