What to Do When You’re Pulled Over For DUI

There might come a time when you’re pulled over on suspicion of driving under the influence in Ladera Ranch. Whether or not you’ve been drinking or have taken a controlled substance, you should handle the situation,then contact the best Ladera Ranch DUI lawyers to handle your case.

When an Officer Pulls You Over

When driving on California roads, you can be pulled over for several reasons. Most often it’s due to a traffic violation (speeding, running a red light or stop sign, or even swerving). When the officer approaches your car and after speaking with you suspects you’re under the influence, you may be asked to submit to sobriety testing.

You’re legally required to submit to blood alcohol testing under implied consent laws after you’ve been arrested. In this case, you may be required to take a breath test at the police station or a blood or urine test. Refusal to submit to BAC testing will result in increased penalties and mandatory license suspension regardless of the test results.

Refuse a Field Sobriety Test

You can legally refuse a field sobriety test. However, the officer is not required to inform you of that right. When an officer conducts a field sobriety test, he uses a set of guidelines to inform him about your sobriety. But, your behavior is subject to the officer’s interpretation, and a perfectly sober person with underlying medical conditions such as inner ear disorders or muscle control issues may be accused of intoxication.

Refuse a Roadside Breathalyzer

You may also legally refuse a handheld breathalyzer (blow) test. These tests estimate the amount of alcohol in your blood using your breath, and although useful are unreliable at best. Their unreliability can be used as a defense in court, however, at the time of an arrest a breathalyzer test is unadvisable.

Choose to Take a Chemical Test at the Station

It’s a good idea to go to the police station and submit to a blood or urine test. A blood test is the most reliable way to determine blood alcohol levels. And, although the test results take longer to come back, if you were under the legal limit there will be no case against you.

Contact an Attorney

You should always contact an attorney after you’ve been arrested and charged with DUI. Ladera Ranch DUI lawyers are some of the most proficient lawyers in Orange County and are able to determine the best course of action. Even if you believe you can argue your own case, you should turn to an experienced DUI defense attorney to help you get the most desirable outcome.