There’s no question that being arrested and charged with DUI is serious. If convicted, you face serious penalties, including substantial fines and perhaps jail time. Even first-time offenders face steep penalties.
Unfortunately, it’s possible to make a bad situation worse. When you are pulled over for DUI, you want to ensure you don’t make the mistakes listed here.
Not complying with the officer’s requests
If you are stopped under suspicion of DUI, it’s important to comply with the officer’s requests. While you have rights, like the option to refuse a field sobriety test, you should not be belligerent or rude when the officer asks for your documentation or requests that you exit your vehicle.
Admitting you have been drinking
You have the right not to answer questions that officers ask you. When you are pulled over or stopped, the goal of the officer is to see if they can get you to admit to drinking. Don’t do this. While you should not be rude if you refuse to answer, you can say, “I prefer not to answer.” This is within your legal rights.
Also, if you admit to drinking at any point during the day, the officer can use this as justification to require additional testing or to arrest you. Saying nothing might be your best option.
Having open alcohol containers in your vehicle
It’s illegal to drive with open containers in your vehicle. This is the case even if they are in the backseat or not where you can reach them. Just seeing these items gives the officers reasons to request a breathalyzer test.
Protecting your legal rights
If you are pulled over on suspicion of DUI, it’s crucial to remember that you have legal rights. Making sure you avoid the mistakes above will help you protect these rights during a potential DUI stop and arrest.
