There’s no questioning the physical and emotional harm drunk driving causes. It’s understandable for states to enforce stringent laws to keep the roads safe and ensure that every motorist does their part. However, law enforcers can make mistakes and overlook crucial steps in booking individuals suspected of driving while intoxicated or under the influence of illegal substances. These mistakes often have lasting effects on a person’s life.

It pays to know that you have rights in dealing with a DUI suspicion, especially if you know you’re in the right. For this, it’s only a matter of knowing what you can do to avoid getting yourself in deeper legal trouble. Even more important is knowing what actions to avoid that will only complicate your situation and may even contribute to an unfair conviction. Here’s a list of things you must not do while you’re being suspected of DUI.

1.  Act Out of Desperation

It pays to know that being arrested and charged with a DUI doesn’t automatically lead to a conviction. You’re going through the process as a result of an officer’s assumption of probable cause. However, some individuals may fail to respond properly to being stopped and may resort to desperate actions such as evading or physically harming law enforcers. 

These actions will only lead to violations that could result in heavier penalties compared to the initial charge. When you’re being asked to stop driving by a law enforcer, keep calm and pull over to the side of the road. 

Answer the officer’s questions carefully and ask them why you’re being stopped. In most cases, the officer will let you go, simply because of a lack of a legal reason or that you were having a medical issue while driving.

2. Answer Questions Without Foresight

When a law enforcer has a strong suspicion of DUI, they may ask questions that will determine whether you’re in the right frame of mind. They are trained to ask these questions to build probable cause for an arrest, which is possible if they notice inconsistencies in the information you share. Any sign of hesitance will only push the office to probe deeper. You only need to provide straight answers. 

Adding anything to the sufficient information you provided will only raise alarms. If you did consume any alcohol before driving, then it pays to know you’re not legally required to answer questions meant to draw out an admission. You can politely tell them that you can’t provide an answer and follow the next steps in the process.

3. Refuse a Sobriety and Breathalyzer Test

If a law enforcer has a strong suspicion of a DUI, it’s important to know that conducting a field sobriety test is part of the process to verify whether you indeed consumed alcohol or an illegal substance. 

You may have the right to refuse to go through with it, but you could face penalties and possible arrest because the officer would have no way to know you’re in the right condition to drive. The same is true if you’re being told to take a chemical test, such as a breathalyzer test. If you know you were driving under the influence of any substance, then you might as well comply.

4. Overlook the Importance of Quality Legal Advice

In case you are arrested and charged with a DUI, you may not have much to do at this point except to rely on a qualified attorney. Whether you’re innocent or not, it pays to get a lawyer with sufficient local knowledge and experience to help you make sense of the facts behind your arrest and charge. 

For one, if you were arrested in Augusta, ME, you may need competent Maine OUI defense attorneys to help you with every step of the process, from coming up with a solid legal strategy and gathering evidence that will lead to a dismissal of your charge and protect your record. 

They can also step in to answer questions from law enforcement and instruct you on how to communicate without sharing incriminating information. Even if you’re guilty of DUI, your attorney will work towards getting you a better deal or sentence.

Endnote

You can’t overlook the impact that a DUI suspicion has on you, but the least you could do is to commit the most dire mistakes. Avoid these, and you won’t have to deal with bigger problems.