If you’ve been out for a night on the town with friends or family, there is a chance that you’ll be driving home late. Even if you haven’t been drinking, you could be drowsy or tired, which may affect your ability to drive safely.
For that reason, it’s usually best to stay where you are if you’ll be returning home late or to get a ride back to your home. If you do make a mistake while driving and an officer sees, you may find yourself stopped by the police and checked for a DUI.
What should you do if you’re stopped for a DUI?
No one likes to see red and blue lights flashing behind them, but if you do, then the first step is to pull over. Pull over somewhere safe that is nearby. If there is nowhere safe, put on your hazard lights and slow down, so the officer can see that you are attempting to stop but need to find a place to stop.
Once you stop, don’t get out of your car. Instead, you can get your license, registration and proof of insurance ready for the officer.
When the officer comes up to your door, you don’t have to roll down your window very much. You only need to roll it down enough to pass through the paperwork that the officer asks for. Be polite, because showing that you are reasonable and don’t seem impaired is beneficial during this kind of stop.
If the officer asks you to take a Breathalyzer test, understand that refusing it is likely to lead to you losing your license for up to a year. Remember that you don’t have to say anything that may incriminate you, either, so if you are asked if you’ve been drinking, you don’t have to respond to that. Honesty may be a virtue, but being candid isn’t going to help you if you’re accused of a DUI. It could actually hurt your case.
It’s best to comply with what the officer is asking of you, even if you don’t agree with an arrest or going to the police station. You can ask for your attorney and fight against any charges later, but you don’t want to do anything to make your case worse at the moment.