How to Avoid DUI Stops and Arrests

The best way to avoid driving under the influence (DUI) charges is not to drink and drive. The second best way is to do everything possible to avoid DUI stops and arrests. Here are a few tips that can help you with the second option.

Avoid Defective Cars

The police don't flag down cars on a whim; the police officers must have probable cause - reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing - to stop you. After the stop, the police can ask you if you have taken alcohol or test your blood alcohol levels. Therefore, you can escape DUI stops if you don't give the police a reason to stop you in the first place.

Car defects are some of the common reasons police officers stop motorists. For example, the police can stop you if your taillights are busted, if your wipers don't work in the rain, or if your car's wheels are wobbly. Don't drive any car with such defects if you don't want the police to stop you.

Obey all Traffic Rules

Police officers also flag own drivers who break traffic rules, and once they flag you down, expect DUI tests and related questions. The authorities know that intoxication impairs judgment and reaction times, and intoxicated drivers are more likely to break the law than other drivers. Therefore, stay on your lane, stop for pedestrians, and obey all traffic laws to avoid DUI stops.

Don't Rely On DUI Myths

Numerous DUI myths abound, and many of them can lead you into trouble with the authorities. For example, some people believe that a driver must be drunk to face a DUI arrest, but that belief isn't true at all. The police can arrest and charge you with DUI as long as you have taken alcohol or drugs, and the substance has affected how you drive.

Here are a couple of other myths that won't help you but can land you in trouble:

• You can avoid DUI suspicion or the smell of alcohol if you put something - like a penny or mouthwash - in your mouth. In reality, such things won't fool the breathalyzer or the officer who stopped you.
• The police can only arrest you for DUI if your car moves while you are intoxicated. In reality, the police can charge you with DUI even if your car was stationary at the time of the arrest.

In short, you shouldn't trust any general knowledge you have about DUI arrests to get out of trouble. Don't drink and drive, but if you do, seek the help of a qualified attorney.

Don't Be Difficult

If the police do stop you, cooperate with them as much as you can without self-incrimination. Don't be unnecessarily antagonistic because such behavior will only make the officers suspicious of you. For example, you should state your name clearly and hand over your driving license if the police ask for it.

Coherency will also help you; for example, don't fumble for your driving license or struggle to open the windows under the instructions of the police. The officers might take your hesitations or fumbles as signs of intoxication.

Don't Admit or Volunteer Guilt

If the police stop you and ask about your alcohol intake, don't say that you have only taken a glass or a bottle or a sip of alcohol. Some people believe that the police will reward such honesty and let them go. In real life, the police will suspect you of a DUI if you make such an admission of guilt. Expect a DUI test even if the police didn't plan to test you in the first place.

Hopefully, the tips above will help you avoid DUI arrests and stops. If the police do charge you with a DUI, Ralph Torres Attorney At Law is the person to call. With our vast experience on DUI cases, we will do our best to get you a favorable outcome for your DUI case. If the police have arrested you on suspicion of DUI, contact us as early as possible so we can start to work on your case.