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What Should You Do if You Get Pulled Over for Suspicion of DUI?

On Behalf of Law Offices of Thomas Maynard Nov. 25, 2020

No matter where you drive, there are police officers on the lookout for people who are under the influence of drugs, alcohol or prescription medication.

The best way to avoid trouble is to never drive when you’re in an altered state. Furthermore, you should attempt to always follow the rules of the road. This gives police less of a reason to pull you over and dig around for information.

Here are the steps you should take if you’re pulled over for suspicion of DUI:

  • Quickly pull to safety: Don’t give the officer reason to believe you’re trying to evade them. Once you see lights in your rearview mirror, activate your hazard lights and look for a safe place to park your vehicle.

  • Stay in your vehicle: Don’t get out of your vehicle unless the officer explicitly asks you to do so. It’s that simple.

  • Don’t say anything you’ll regret: The officer may attempt to trick you into sharing information that places guilt on you. For instance, they ask if you’ve been drinking or if you have any intentions on consuming alcohol later in the night. Don’t answer questions like these. Even if you think you know what to say, it’s easy to slip up.

  • Don’t resist arrest: Regardless of the circumstances, resisting arrest will never work out for you in the end. Doing so won’t give the officer any reason to let you off the hook. All it will do is give them reason to charge you with another crime.

  • Take mental notes: This is all about trying to remember what happened leading up to, during and after your arrest. Make note of anything that the officer does that’s not in line with the law, such as having no reason to pull you over in the first place.

These are the types of steps you should take if you’re pulled over for suspicion of DUI. It’s your hope that doing so allows you to drive away without any trouble. However, if you’re put under arrest and charged with a crime, it’s time to decide on a defense strategy that will allow you to protect your legal rights.