How To Deal With A DUI Stop - Part 2

Let's dispense with the obvious. If you're drunk, then don't drive. Don't drive, because you don't want to hurt someone else or yourself. Don't drive, because you don't want to smash up your car or damage someone else's property. And finally, don't drive, because you don't want to get arrested, lose your license, pay huge fines, have your insurance go through the roof and perhaps even lose your job.

Tips on How to Avoid a DUI Arrest, when pulled over on Suspicion of Driving Under the Influence.

How To Act If You Are Stopped For Drunk Driving

That said, let's move to the real world where you do not have to drive drunk to be arrested and found guilty of drunk driving. This is the world that says any person with virtually any amount of alcohol in their system is a candidate for a drunk-driving citation and 100% responsible for any accident that may occur, regardless of who caused the accident. This is not an exaggeration, and you should not assume that because you drink and drive in a responsible manner that you are immune from the "drunk-driver" label and the consequences of being arrested for drunk driving.

If you drink and drive, no matter how conservatively, there is a real possibility that you could be stopped, arrested, and found guilty of drunk driving. First, most people do not realize how few drinks it takes to exceed the legal standards of .08 % or .1 % Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). For the average sized person, three or four drinks could easily place them in the "drunk-driver" category. However, based solely on a police officer's claim that you were "impaired," even though your BAC was below the legal threshold, you can be convicted as a drunk driver. The only additional evidence needed would be proof of some measurable amount of alcohol in your system.

Is this fair? No. Is it right? No. Does it make it safer on the highway? No.

How do you avoid being caught up in a DWI nightmare? Well, you could avoid drinking and driving altogether. That means no beer after the ball game, no wine with your meal, no drinking at holiday parties, sticking to soft drinks at wedding receptions, no meeting your friends after work for a drink and socializing. You get the picture. However, if you choose to drink and drive, there are a number of things you can do to lesson the likelihood of being stopped and charged with a drunk-driving violation.

Your Vehicle
Police officers need an excuse to stop a vehicle; there must be some probable violation to justify stopping your vehicle. Frankly, they can always come up with an excuse to stop any vehicle they want to -- a dirty license plate is a violation. But, if given the choice, they will stop the vehicles with the most obvious violations. Speeding, failing to use signals, rolling through a stop sign or driving with burned out lights are common justifications for stopping a motorist. Most of these are controllable items or situations.

For example, once every two or three weeks turn on all the lights on your vehicles(s). Check both headlight beams, taillights, clearance lights, brake lights and turn signals. And don't forget the license plate light (this is a favorite!) Your headlights should be properly aimed, also. Make sure your license plates are properly affixed and readable. Darkly tinted windows, loud exhaust pipes, broken lenses, unrepaired body damage and cracked windows all serve as the necessary excuse to stop a vehicle.

If the vehicle you are driving is registered in the name of someone who has been convicted of drunk driving it would be wise to not drink and drive in that vehicle. Police officers spend large amounts of time riding around reading license plate numbers into a central computer. When they find a vehicle licensed to someone that was previously arrested for drunk driving, especially late at night, they will always find an excuse to pull that car over.

How To Deal With A DUI Stop - Part 3