You’ve just had a couple of drinks with your friends after work before deciding to drive home – carefully. After all, you just had two beers. There is no way you can be drunk. Not long after hitting the road, you see those dreaded police lights flashing through your rearview mirror.
When the police stop you and begin a DUI investigation people commonly wonder why they were pulled over in the first place. Legally, the police must have probable cause to pull you over for any investigation, including drunk driving. Here are some of the reasons the police might pull you over for a DUI investigation:
1. Swerving in and out of your lane
This is definitely the clearest sign of drunk driving and one that the police are always on the lookout for while on patrol. Alcohol impairs the driver’s ability to concentrate and drive in a straight line.
2. Driving down the center line
It is not uncommon for an intoxicated motorist to hug the center line to avoid veering off the road. While this may be safer than swerving in and out of your lane, it is still illegal and dangerous. When the police notice that you are hugging the center line, they will definitely pull you over for a DUI investigation.
3. Serious traffic offenses
Intoxicated drivers tend to have difficulty observing even the most basic traffic rules. These include obvious, yet crucial, things driving at night with their headlights off, signaling right when turning left, persistent tailgating, erratic speeding and braking or running through the red lights. These simple violations can be indicative of impaired judgment, which is a sign of intoxication.
Driving under influence is a serious offense in New York. Find out how you can protect your rights and defend yourself if you are charged with drunk driving.
