Drunk driving is one of the leading causes of fatal car wrecks. As such, if law enforcement has reasonable suspicion that you could be drunk behind the wheel, they will pull you over for further investigation.
If you are pulled over for a DUI investigation, it is important to understand that your case is well underway. What you say and do during the stop can profoundly impact the outcome of your case. That said, here are two things you want to avoid telling the police during your DUI stop:
“I only had one glass of wine after dinner, so I cannot be drunk.”
What may seem like an innocent statement can actually hurt your defense should you go to trial because you’re admitting that you drank before driving.
If the police ask whether you have been out drinking, do not admit it. Do not lie, either. Instead, a response like, “I’d rather not answer that question without legal guidance,” would suffice.
“I can prove I’m not drunk. Let me show you!”
Drivers often think that they can “prove” sobriety by agreeing to participate in field sobriety testing, like the one-legged stand test or the walk-and-turn test. However, field sobriety tests are subjective (at best), and very hard to pass – especially when an officer already believes that you’re impaired.
Unlike chemical blood alcohol content tests, there’s no legal requirement to engage in field sobriety testing, and all you may be doing is giving the officer more ammunition to use against you.
A DUI stop can be frightening, to say the least. Learning more about Pennsylvania DUI laws can help you safeguard your rights and avoid pitfalls that can hurt your case.