If you’re stopped by a police officer for suspicion of driving under the influence, your conduct from the moment the stop begins affects the outcome. In the event that you are arrested for a Florida DUI, you should contact an attorney from a DUI defense firm in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida as soon as possible.
When You are Pulled Over for Florida DUI
You should pull over once it’s safe to do so and speak to the officer politely and respectfully. It’s useful to have your license, registration, and proof of insurance on hand, since you will be expected to produce those documents. If it takes you a long time to find them, the officer may suspect that you are impaired.
The officer may ask if you have been drinking – be careful how you answer this question. If you have been drinking, the officer will most likely smell alcohol on your breath, so if you lie by saying no, it will be at the cost of your credibility.
You will have to admit that you lied to the police in your court case. You do not, however, have to tell the officer how much you drank when you’re asked if you have been drinking.
Field Sobriety Tests
You may be asked to exit your vehicle and perform one or several Field Sobriety Exercises (FSEs). The officers will watch for signs of impairment, such as leaning on your car, as you exit the vehicle. Whether or not you agree to perform the FSEs is a tricky decision.
If you opt not to, the officer and prosecutor will have substantially less evidence against you, which is a good thing. If you refuse, however, it is more likely the officer will arrest you and the fact that you refused to perform the FSEs will be argued as an indication you were guilty of a Florida DUI.
If you do agree to the FSEs, it’s important to follow the officer’s directions to the letter. Any failure to follow the officer’s instructions will likely be used against you as evidence of impairment.
Breathalyzer Tests
You may be asked to submit to a breathalyzer test. InFlorida, you do not have the right to an attorney before making the decision to take a breathalyzer test, and these tests results are important evidence. If you refuse, you will likely be arrested which will include a hard suspension period. The mandatory suspension in which you will not be able to drive – will triple from 30 days to 90 days. If you submit, however, and blow above a .08, you will be giving the officer strong evidence against you.
So while it may help you to not submit to the test in terms of your criminal case, it’s also valuable to consider the practical ramifications of not being able to drive at all for 3 months.
If you have been arrested for a Florida DUI, you don’t have any time to lose, so contact a DUI defense firm in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.