If you get pulled over and you know that you've been drinking and that you will not pass as a sober person at the moment, it can be really hard to avoid getting charged with DUI. People do all sorts of things to avoid paying the fine, but, in truth, the best thing that you can do is not to drink at all. However, there are some things that you can and should do in order to make your experience as painless as possible and perhaps, just perhaps, you might walk away from getting fined. Coming from LY lawyers, here are a few dos and don'ts of DUI.
- Before the officer approaches your vehicle, DO retrieve the license, insurance and registration. Also, DO show them to the officer upon request. This will make the officer's first impression of you better and perhaps convince him that you have not been driving.
- You DO NOT want to answer any questions related to your alcohol consuming. Inform the officer that you will not speak or do anything before your attorney gets there. You have a right to this.
- If the officer asks you to step out of the vehicle, DO so. Even if you have a lot of rights regarding the situation, you do not have the right to be rude or disobedient. Failing to adhere to the officer's orders will result in further charges for obstruction of justice.
- You have the right to not be forced to take any kinds of tests until your lawyer gets there. So, if you are ordered to take any kind of sobriety, agility or eye tests, DO NOT adhere and politely reply that you will not speak or do anything before your attorney gets there or you at least speak to him.
- The officer can conduct a search of your vehicle only if you give consent for it and you have every right not to consent to something like that (unless the officer has a warrant, which is highly unlikely in a given situation). So, if the officer demands to search your vehicle, DO NOT agree. Any evidence found in your car without your consent will be worthless in the court of law.
- Another one of your rights is to be silent. This is something that you should DO. Drunken people often tend to speak improper things and these things can be used against you in the court of law. If you swear at the officer and act arrogant, you might end up with more than just a simple DUI fine. Simply answer when you are asked something and that is it.
Last, but not least, DO NOT drink and drive, it is simple as that. Just make the calculation. A cab-drive home will turn out to be not more than $40, but chances are that it will be far less. On the other hand, in some cities, if you get busted while driving drunk, you can look forward to a fine of up to $10,000, perhaps even more. Also, you will face some other consequences and the DUI charge might affect just more than your wallet.
Oh, and another thing, if you choose not to drive when drinking, you will definitely make the road a safer place.
