Owning and driving a car can give you access to a lot of modern conveniences. Daily commutes and those small weekend trips can get a lot easier if you do not have to depend on third-party transport options. If you are a driving enthusiast, the enjoyment of being behind the wheel can add to the driving experience. However, there are also certain responsibilities that can come with driving and owning a car. Driving is an activity that requires constant, consistent focus. Driving under the influence of any intoxicant can affect that and be a root cause of accidents and grievous injuries. This is why DUI is illegal all over the country.
Driving under the influence of alcohol can result in loss of focus and concentration and can mess up your reflexes and hand-eye coordination. This can result in accidents that can end up in injuries and even death. To avoid this from happening frequently, there are laws in place all over the country when it comes to DUI offenses that specifically put in place legal reprisals for this. While it can definitely be possible for you to exercise an amount of self-control and avoid driving when you have had a few drinks, there might be an unfortunate time where you do get hauled up by the local police for such an offense. In such a case, you need to know how to handle things.
It is very important to know exactly how to deal with things if you get pulled over by the cops for a DUI charge. There are provisions in DUI law that you need to know about and your actions can have an impact on the outcome of the case in the future. The prospect of facing a criminal investigation is never pleasant. However, if you handle things properly, you can leave less in terms of loosed ends. Let us take a closer look.
Immediate Steps
Knowing what to do when being charged with a crime can make a great difference to the outcome. If you are being stopped for a suspected DUI charge, it is important that you pull over to the side of the road and comply with the directions of the police officers stopping you. It is important to be polite and not to make sudden movements of any kind when it comes to your behavior with police officers. However, there are some things that you can refuse to engage in.
While it is important to be truthful when talking to the police, it is also important to not incriminate yourself. This can be very important later if you are facing a criminal investigation. It can be perfectly okay to plead the Fifth Amendment and refuse to answer questions which might have incriminating answers. You can also refuse to take a field sobriety test and refuse to be tested with handheld breathalyzers, both of which have been known to produce inaccurate results for a number of reasons. A chemical test at the police station might be mandatory and this is something you can go ahead with. Once your traffic stop is complete, you can contemplate your next steps.
Getting Legal Help
Once your stop is completed, you can think about getting legal help. Facing a criminal investigation is never a pleasant prospect and the best legal assistance can put you in a much better position. Engaging the services of the right DUI lawyers or DUI law firm can definitely be a very good idea. Keeping an accurate record of your stop can be a great way to provide information and insight to your lawyers of choice and can help when you start planning your defense.
Facing a criminal investigation and coming out on the other side with minimal damage definitely involves getting the best legal help you can find. Keeping these points in mind, you can certainly put yourself in a position that helps you fight your case in the future. Awareness, control, and presence of mind can be essential qualities to have when it comes to dealing with cop stops regarding DUI and following these tips can help you deal with the situation.