Driving is one of the most essential activities for us to do. A lot of people rely on driving to get to work, others need to ferry their children to school, and it helps us get around the city. However, driving can be dangerous. As such, there are some strict rules around what you can and can’t do while driving. A great example of this is the rules around driving under the influence. In other words, driving after having used some kind of substance or having consumed alcohol.
Thankfully, avoiding a DUI is fairly straightforward–just don’t drink and then drive immediately after! Even if you’ve had a small drink, it’s fairly easy to let the alcohol subside before you get into the car. In addition, driving safely and carefully means you’re far less likely to be pulled over by the police and examined.
However, even if you do everything right and avoid drinking and driving, there’s still a small chance that you’ll be pulled over. Police can be a little jumpy at times, especially at night or after a big event has taken place. As such, we’ve put together this helpful article that will show you what to expect if you’ve been pulled over for a DUI. Keep in mind that everyone’s experience with this is different, so take this with a grain of salt and use it as a light point of reference.
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What can you expect from the officer?
First, it’s important to talk about what you can expect the officer to do. There are a couple of common steps that every officer should take when they’ve pulled you over for a suspected DUI.
In some cases, you may have been pulled over for something else. Perhaps one of the lights in the rear of your car has broken and you’re just being reminded of it by the police. Or maybe you were going over the speed limit a little and didn’t realize. There’s always a chance that you could be pulled over for something that is completely unrelated to a DUI. In this case, you should always be courteous and respectful to the officer to defuse the situation as quickly as possible. Nobody wants to be pulled over by the police for longer than a few minutes, so the more polite you are, the quicker you’ll get out of the situation.
However, if the office does have reason to suspect that you’ve been driving under the influence, here are a couple of things to expect.
You’ll be asked to take a field sobriety test
The first thing to expect is a field sobriety test. If the officer thinks that you’ve been drinking or have taken some kind of substance, they’ll perform a couple of tests to see if you’re actually impaired. This can vary from state to state and officer to officer, but there are a couple of common tests that they’ll perform.
First, they’ll ask you to do a walk-and-turn test. The officer will ask you to walk a straight line, turn, then walk back. They’ll watch for any signs of impairment such as being unable to walk in a straight line or needing to stop halfway. You might also be asked to stand on one leg to test your balance. If you fail these tests or refuse to take them, you’ll likely be arrested and charged with a DUI. You can refuse to take these tests (you have a right to) but it’ll likely result in you getting arrested.
You may be asked to take a breathalyzer test
If you pass the field sobriety test or the officer wants further confirmation before arresting you, then you’ll be asked to take a breathalyzer test. This tests the level of alcohol in your system. If you agree (again, you have every right to refuse it) then you’ll be asked to blow into a device to measure the alcohol content in your system.
If you refuse to take the test, then you’ll likely be arrested. However, if you refuse to take it after passing the field sobriety test, then your chances of being let go are slightly higher.
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If you’re caught, you might be arrested and taken through a booking process
If you are caught, then you’ll be arrested and will need to go through the booking process. This involves collecting some information about you such as your name and the alleged crime. You’ll also have a mugshot taken and the officer will take your fingerprints.
This essentially creates your criminal record, so it’s certainly something that you should try to avoid if possible. Clothing and other personal property you’re wearing might also be confiscated and you might be asked to wear a jail uniform. Thankfully, driving under the influence is considered a misdemeanour if it’s your first offence. Some states even consider your second or third DUI to still be a misdemeanor. This means that you’re less likely to face harsh punishment and may be able to get off with something light.
You might be searched if you put up some resistance
There’s also a chance that you’ll be searched if you put up any resistance. Your vehicle might also be checked if the officer suspects that you have weapons, drugs or other questionable items in your possession.
It’s important that you don’t resist if they do ask to search your vehicle, especially if you don’t have anything questionable in your possession. Doing so could result in the use of force. Even if the officer doesn’t have to use force, you never want to give police a reason to get aggressive with you especially if they are armed.
You’ll probably qualify for bail
Most crimes will come with a set bail amount depending on your state. For minor crimes, you can expect to be released if you admit to the offence. In this case, you probably won’t need to wait for a bail hearing. However, if the offence is a little more serious, then you can expect to attend a bail hearing to find out if you qualify for bail.
If you do, then you may need to consider using a bail bonds service to help you pay for it. Bail can be rather expensive and there are many factors that influence if you qualify for it or not. If this was your first crime and you have a clean record, then your bail will likely be much lower.
You’ll still need to attend your trial
Even if you are released on bail, you might still need to attend your official trial. If you don’t, the bail money may be forfeit and the judge will issue a bench warrant for your arrest. The bail bond agent will also be expected to locate you, arrest you, and ultimately put you back in jail.
If you’re found guilty at your trial, then you’re likely going to face jail time and some fines. As a result of the trial, you may be forced to take on a restricted license. This allows you to drive to work or school or any treatment programs that the court has mandated that you attend. It might also involve using a breathalyzer device when you drive. If you’re caught driving under the influence with a restricted license, it could result in much harsher penalties.
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Avoiding a DUI in the future
So to conclude, let’s take a look at a few tips that will help you avoid a DUI in the future.
- Choose someone reliable to be your designated driver. Look out for the signs of a good driver and designate them as your go-to driver when you’re going out. Make sure they don’t drink too much before you leave and make sure they’re a responsible person.
- Book somewhere to stay if you know you’ll be out for a while. If you’re going to be out for a while then make sure you book a hotel room or find a place to stay on a service like Airbnb. This is much cheaper than getting a criminal record and paying fines.
- Use public transportation instead. Public transport is safe and cheaper in many cases. If you know you’re going to be drinking, just take the bus, train or a ridesharing service. Just make sure you look at safety tips when getting into a taxi or rideshare when you’ve had something to drink.
- Switch up your drinks to cancel out some of the alcohol. It’s a good idea to look at different ways to sober up quickly once you’ve been drinking. For example, make sure you consume a lot of water and mix in some regular soda without alcohol. This will help keep your system hydrated which cancels out some of the alcohol and also makes your hangover the next day less harsh.
- Don’t just drink–make sure you eat as well! Drinking on an empty stomach is a bad idea, so make sure you get something to eat during your night out.
Hopefully, this article has given you a good idea of what to expect if you’re ever pulled over for a DUI.
