Drinking and driving is never a good choice, and DUI charges are serious. It’s as plain as that and we all know it, but you would probably be hard-pressed to speak with someone who has not had at least a glass of wine with dinner before and then driven home. Even after consuming the most moderate amounts of alcohol and climbing behind the wheel, you run the risk of being charged with DUI, or at least being stopped and asked to undergo what can be some rigorous sobriety exercises.
While many of us joke that we could not walk a straight line or recite the alphabet backwards or perform any of the different stringent tasks a DUI checkpoint might require, this can indeed be challenging even if you have little to drink—affecting your body just enough to send you off kilter—or you may also suffer from health issues that cause difficulty.
If you were stopped by law enforcement, chances are there was something else wrong that garnered attention. You may have had a broken tail-light, you may have been speeding, swerving into another lane, or there may be other maintenance issues with your car that cause the police to turn on those blue lights and stop you. Law enforcement will often do sweeps on the weekend, setting up roadblocks. In these cases, they are often looking for people who are driving under the influence and they may tend to cluster these types of checkpoints on weekends or holidays like July 4.
When stopped, and if you have been drinking, obviously is best to say as little as possible without the advice of an attorney, who may need to defend you in the case of a DUI charge. You do have every right to refuse a breathalyzer, and in many cases, you may be able to refuse walking the line also. Be aware, however, these types of refusals still have repercussions and you will probably still see your car impounded, spend at least the night in jail, and have your license suspended. The DUI can be an extremely costly ordeal too, and you can find out more about this in our recent blog, ‘How Much is a First Offense DUI Going to Cost Me?”
If you have been arrested due to a DUI matter, please call the Dolan Law Offices now. We will listen carefully to your concerns, review your case, and offer advice based on many years of experience. John Patrick Dolan understands California’s complex criminal defense laws and our office will provide the experience you need to help you fight for your rights and best interests. Call us at (760) 775-3739 or contact us online as soon as possible.