If you have been pulled over for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and are possibly facing a DUI arrest, you’re probably going to be a bit anxious, and that’s completely normal. What follows, though, are some things you should do if you find yourself in that situation, and remember if at any time you feel uncertain on what you should do, ask to speak to an attorney.
3 Things to Do During a DUI Arrest
1. Stay calm and be polite.
Getting excited, angry, or violent isn’t going to help your situation. The best thing you can do when pulled over by a police officer is to stay calm and speak in polite terms and in an even tone.
2. Answer as few questions with as little information as possible.
If you’ve been pulled over and get the idea that the police officer thinks you may be driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances, you are best advised to exercise your right to remain silent.
You’ll probably be asked how much you’ve had to drink, where you were, where you are going, etc., but you are under no legal obligation to answer those questions; as you always hear on television, what you say can be used against you in a court of law, so think before you speak. The officer is already building a case against you at this point, so be careful what information you offer.
3. Don’t submit to field sobriety and/or breathalyzer tests unless you are required to do so by law.
This is a situation in which you need to know the law now before it ever comes up in a real life situation; whether you are legally required to submit to field sobriety and breathalyzer tests is a matter of state law. Consult with a DUI attorney in your area to be sure you know what you have to do by law and what is purely your choice.
FYI, the results of field sobriety tests are used by an officer to decide whether to arrest you and may or may not be admissible in court against you, so if you aren’t legally obligated to take the tests, it is often (although not always) in your best interest to decline.
Again, the importance of knowing the law in your state cannot be stressed enough, so do contact an experienced DUI attorney in your area to find out how the state’s DUI laws affect you.