Let’s get this out of the way: driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) is both wrong and reckless. Even if you are not found and charged, drunk driving endangers your life, your car occupant’s lives as well as the other road users.
However, mistakes happen. And if law enforcement pulls you over for a drunk driving investigation, it is important to note that your actions will profoundly impact the outcome of your case. That said, here are two mistakes you should steer clear of if you are pulled over for a DUI investigation.
Refusing to stop
For the police to stop you for a DUI investigation, they must have valid reasons for doing so. For instance, you must be breaking traffic rules to warrant a stop. This is known as probable cause. Refusing to honor a lawful command to stop amounts to evading the police, and this can compound your problems. Besides a potential DUI charge, you will also face additional charges.
Refusing to yield to the Breathalyzer test
One of the investigations the police will conduct during a DUI stop is establishing your blood alcohol content (BAC). To do this, the police will request you to take a breathalyzer test. It is not uncommon for some people to resist this test. However, this can turn out to be a costly mistake.
Washington, like all the other states, applies implied consent law. This means that in signing up for the driver’s license, you will also be consenting to the police to stop you for a DUI investigation when they have probable cause to believe that you are driving under influence. Refusing to yield to a lawful breathalyzer test request comes with its own consequences.
Drunk driving is a criminal offense whose conviction carries serious legal and personal implications. If you are charged with drunk driving, it is in your best interest that you take steps to defend yourself.