Some people assume that police officers can pull you over just because they feel like it, but that’s not how things work. Instead, police officers must see you breaking a traffic law or have reasonable suspicion, which means that they see something that would make any reasonable person think that you’re breaking the law.
In the case of drunk driving, there are several behaviors that constitute drunk driving. These include things like swerving out of your lane of travel, stopping without a reason or driving unusually slow or fast.
What happens if the officer stops your vehicle?
If the officer stops your vehicle for the suspicion of drunk driving, they’ll try to determine what’s going on. This often starts with talking to you. During that conversation, they’ll look for signs of impairment, such as alcohol on your breath or slurred speech.
If they see signs of impairment, they may move on to asking you to take a field sobriety test or a chemical test. The results of the interview and the testing may lead to a drunk driving arrest if the officer finds probable cause.
Being arrested for drunk driving can lead to serious consequences if you’re convicted. It’s critical that you learn the options that you have for a defense so you can determine how to proceed. Working with someone familiar with these matters may be beneficial, so you can draw from their knowledge of this type of case as you make decisions that are in your best interests.