It can be frightening to be pulled over by a police officer regardless of whether or not you’ve committed a crime. However, if you are suspected of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (DUI), you may be arrested by an officer. The best way to come out of such an encounter without doing yourself a disservice is to understand your rights entirely.
When you are pulled over, an officer might ask you a few questions to try and determine your sobriety level. If he or she suspects you might be inebriated, the officer might ask you to step out of the car and perform a standardized field sobriety test or take a breathalyzer test. A field sobriety test is completely voluntary, so you can’t be penalized for refusing to participate. However, a chemical test is mandatory under Colorado law. If you are arrested and taken to the station, you have to give blood, urine, or breath to determine your blood alcohol concentration (BAC). To refuse means incurring immediate punishment.
You don’t have the right to speak with an attorney until you have submitted to or refused to take a chemical BAC test. Once this activity has occurred, call an attorney as soon as possible. You can also exercise your right to remain silent until your lawyer is present.
If you have been arrested for driving under the influence, make sure to call an experienced legal representative as soon as possible. Our skilled Virginia Beach DUI attorney has more than 30 years of legal experience to offer your case. Let us see what we can do for you.
Contact us at (757) 491-8800 or fill out our online form to schedule a free case consultation today.