One of the worst feelings when you’re driving is the moment you see the red and blue lights behind you. You know you’re getting pulled over. Even if you’ve done nothing wrong, you get scared. You start wondering if you ran a red light a few miles back. You may check to see that your inspection sticker is good.
But, imagine seeing those red and blue lights when you’ve had a few too many beers. Most people know when they’re too drunk to drive. With Uber and Lyft, there really is never an excuse to drink and drive. People do make mistakes. So, if you’ve been drinking and get pulled over the cops in Houston, you should be scared.
If the cops pull you over because they suspect you’re driving under the influence, you should know what to expect. If you know what’s going to happen, you’ll know how you should react. Your Houston DUI attorney can provide a better defense if you follow certain guidelines when you get pulled over. We’ll provide a brief guide of what to expect if you get stopped for DUI.
What Makes the Cops Suspect You of DUI in the First Place?
Contrary to popular opinion, cops don’t sit back and wait to stop random people, hoping that they’ve been drinking. Cops are too busy protecting their communities to waste time doing this. However, there are certain things that cops notice while on the road. They’re trained to spot someone who appears to be driving while intoxicated.
Some of the things that will make an officer suspect that you may be driving under the influence include:
- You are swerving while driving your car – If the cops see you swerve in and out of your lane, they’re going to suspect something’s wrong. Either you’re texting while driving or you’ve had one too many beers or cocktails. If they didn’t stop you, they wouldn’t be doing their job.
- They see an open container – When you’re stopped at a red light or in a parking lot, chances are, a cop may pull up next to you. If they see you or your passengers drinking from a can or bottle of alcohol, you will get pulled over. The same is true if they see empty containers in your car. They have every reason to suspect you’ve been drinking.
- You may get stopped for some other infraction – If the police pull you over for some other traffic violation, they will check to see if you’ve been drinking. If they detect the odor of alcohol, they’ll have you do a field sobriety test. The same is true if they notice slurred speech or bloodshot eyes.
Regardless of why the cops pull you over, they will check to see if you’ve been drinking or using drugs.
You May Be Asked to Do a Field Sobriety Test
If the cop who stops you suspects you’ve been drinking, they’re going to ask you to do a field sobriety test. If you refuse, you’ll be arrested for DUI. If you take the test and fail, you’ll be arrested for DUI.
A lot of people aren’t sure if they should take the test or not. It comes down to whether or not you think you’ll pass. If you take the test and fail, you will be charged with DUI. However, your Houston DUI attorney will be able to challenge the result of the test if it wasn’t administered properly. They can also explain your performance by a medical condition, your being overtired or the fact that you’ve taken legitimate medication that made you perform poorly.
If you fail the test, or appear intoxicated, the officer will ask you to take a breathalyzer test. If you refuse, you’ll be arrested for DUI and your license will be suspended for one (1) year. If you take the test and blow a .08 or higher, you’ll be arrested and charged with DUI.
Contact an Experienced Houston DUI Attorney Today
If you’ve been charged with DUI, you should call a Houston DUI attorney right away. Your first court date is going to happen pretty fast. Your attorney will need as much time as possible to prepare for your initial hearing.
Call Eddington & Worley today and schedule your initial consultation. There is so much at stake, you’ll want a skilled attorney there with you. They can work with the prosecutor to get the charges reduced or dismissed. They can also challenge the evidence the State has against you.