Pulled Over for DWI
If you worry that you will get pulled over for DWI, knowing the first steps you should take will really help you out in the long run.
Pulled Over for DWI | First Move
If you happen to make the wrong decision – and all people make mistakes – and get into an automobile that you’re driving, and you find yourself with the lights on behind you, and you know that you’re getting pulled over, and you have that feeling in your gut that something bad is about to happen, my suggestion is that you pull over in a slow, methodical, reasonable manner, shut the vehicle off, put your hands on the steering wheel, and wait for the officer to come to the car.
Pulled Over for DWI | Police Approaches
Typically, in my experience handling the multiple DWIs that I have as a prosecutor, police become very skittish when they approach vehicles. If you turn the lights on in the vehicle, have your hands on the steering wheel, and do exactly as they say, it makes things a lot smoother. Typically, what happens is the police officer will approach your vehicle from the driver’s side. They will ask you to shut the car off if you haven’t already. They’ll ask you for your documents in the form of license and registration. My suggestion is if those documents are either in your wallet or in your lock box, glove box, you ask permission to reach for them, which would show respect to the officer, and not demonstrate any quick movement which could alarm that officer.
Pulled Over for DWI | Tests
In addition, that officer may ask you to exit the vehicle, which you should do so in a reasonable and respectful manner and follow all questions that the officer does. That being said, you have rights. You don’t necessarily have to answer every question, or you don’t have to perform field sobriety tests that an officer may ask you. I would tell them that you would like to speak to an attorney as soon as possible and wait for them to allow you to do so.
If you have been pulled over for DWI, please call our Buffalo DWI lawyer today for a free consultation.