As a responsible adult, you know that you shouldn’t ever drink and drive. However, there might be that one time when you have had too much to drink and find yourself behind the wheels.
If this happens to you, and law enforcement pulls you over, here are things you can do to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.
Pull over safely and stay in your car
If you really are drunk, the police officers probably already know. They can interpret some driving cues. If you see those cop flashlights on your windscreen, safely pull over to the side of the road and kill your car engine.
The way you pull over determines just how drunk the police officer would assess you to be. If you pull over roughly, drive erratically, or park in an unsafe location, the police officer will probably take note and can include it in the police report.
Do not do any sudden thing like taking off your glasses/hood or other things you are wearing. Put your hands on the wheels and remain in your car until the officer specifically asks you to come out.
Be Polite to the Police
Misbehaving, cursing, screaming, or running is likely to make matters much worse than they already are. Getting pulled over for DUI might be a scary experience, especially if you are really under the influence. However, things can get much worse if you are uncooperative with law enforcement.
You are far less likely to be arrested by the officer if he sees that you are sincerely sorry and are quite respectful. On the other hand, if you are very rude, the officer would do everything in his power to get you convicted, including writing a very incriminating police report.
You have the right to remain silent
Although you should be respectful to law enforcement, your Fifth Amendment rights still subsist. This means that you have every right to remain silent and not reveal any incriminating information that could be used against you.
The police already have their reason for pulling you over. So, offering information about how you just had one drink won’t really be helpful. You don’t have to tell the police the amount of alcohol you drank, where you were coming from, or your destination. Be polite, but do not reveal unnecessary information that could incriminate you.
Remain Calm
Even if you follow all the above, chances are that you might be arrested and will spend the night in jail. This might be quite scary especially if you are drunk. Despite this, you have to remain calm. Ask for a lawyer and remember that anything you say could be used against you in the court of law.
Once you are released, record everything
It is quite essential to have a grasp of what happened during your arrest. Your memory is still fresh immediately after leaving custody. So, record everything that transpired. When you do this, your attorney would have the right set of facts to fight the charges that could be brought against you.
We highly recommend that you avoid drinking and driving. However, if you do find yourself in a compromising situation we want you to know that we are here to help.
