What Do I Do If I Get Pulled Over for DUI?
Being pulled over in Colorado on suspicion of DUI can be a very harrowing experience, it can be even more distressing considering the possibility of a Colorado DUI arrest. The most important thing to do if you are pulled over for a suspected DUI is not to panic. The second most important thing to do is to keep your answers short and polite. You may think you can talk your way out of this, but frankly you can’t. Take into consideration that anything you say to the police officer can be used against you should you go to court. The old “I only had one drink” routine never works, and you just admitted to driving with alcohol in your system.
An experienced Colorado DUI lawyer would tell you to follow the directions of the officer and stay calm. They will come to the side of your vehicle and ask for your license and registration. Over reaction may give a cause for a Colorado DUI arrest, so give him or her the documents they request and be as cordial as you can. At this time the officer is probably looking for tell-tale signs that you may have been drinking. These include muddled speech, open alcohol containers in your car, and the scent of alcohol on your breath.
After this initial contact, should the officer have continued suspicion that you’ve been drinking, they will most likely ask you to volunteer to a variety of field sobriety tests. Normally performed on the road side, these tests are meant to challenge your coordination, overall alertness and your capability to follow simple instructions. If the officer still feels that you may have had one too many, they will ask you to submit to a breath or blood test to evaluate your blood alcohol concentration. If that level is .08 or above (.02 if you’re under 21), under Colorado law he or she will place you under arrest and charge you with DUI. This is most certainly the time to think about contacting a Colorado DUI lawyer.
Regardless of whether you are intoxicated or there is an error in judgment on the part of the officer, a Colorado DUI attorney is of the utmost importance. You are faced with a charge that has long term ramifications. Loss of your license, fines and legal fees, and even jail time are possible after a Colorado DUI arrest. Do not take this lightly and hire a qualified Colorado DUI attorney as soon as possible. A Colorado DUI arrest is a serious situation, you will have to address your license suspension at a DMV hearing and also face any criminal charges in court. With the services of an experienced Colorado DUI lawyer, you can get through the Colorado DUI process without undue stress.
To get legal advice fast, contact one of the experienced Colorado DUI attorneys at the law offices of Lonn Heymann as soon as you are arrested on DUI charges in Colorado.
