When you’re driving at night, the last thing you want to see is flashing red and blue lights behind you. When you are pulled over, especially at night, the officer will likely look for signs that you are under the influence. They may even ask you if you’ve been drinking. It’s important to understand that how you answer this question is vital. You don’t want to incriminate yourself, but lying can also land you in trouble. As such, the following blog explores what you should know about these matters and why connecting with Houston DWI defense attorneys is vital.
What Do Officers Look For When Conducting a Traffic Stop?
When you are pulled over, the officer will look for signs of intoxication during your interaction. The first thing they will do is examine your appearance. If your eyes are glassy or bloodshot and your movements are twitchy it can indicate intoxication. Additionally, they will analyze the interior of your vehicle to see if there are any open bottles in plain view. However, with that being said, it’s critical to understand the officer cannot search your vehicle without a warrant. If something is left in plain view though, the officer has every right to use that as evidence.
The officer will also pay attention to your movements and speech. If you are slurring or otherwise confused, have poor balance, or keep fumbling with your keys or other items, it can indicate that you have been drinking.
If they have even the slightest suspicion that you are under the influence of alcohol, they will likely ask if you’ve had anything to drink or ask you to submit to some form of sobriety testing, whether that is a breathalyzer or field sobriety test.
How Do I Respond If an Officer Ask if I’ve Been Drinking?
The most crucial thing to understand if you are asked whether or not you’ve been drinking is that lying is one of the worst things you can do. This can severely damage your credibility and make it harder for a judge or jury to believe you if you are arrested. Instead, you have a few options.
If you have not been drinking, you can tell the officer the truth. They may ask you to take a breathalyzer test to confirm. It’s important to understand that your license will be suspended if you do not comply. As such, if you are certain you are 100% sober and will blow a 0.00%, you may want to take the test.
If you have been drinking, you may think honesty is the best policy. However, if you admit to even one or two drinks, that provides the officer with probable cause. As such, you should answer politely and tell the officer you have been advised not to answer any questions until you have spoken with your attorney. This helps prevent you from incriminating yourself or lying to the police.
As you can see, this is an incredibly complicated matter, so it’s imperative to connect with an experienced criminal defense lawyer. At the Gonzalez Law Group, our dedicated legal team understands how nerve-wracking these matters can be, which is why we are here to guide you through these complex matters. Reach out to our firm today to learn how we can fight for you when you’re in legal trouble.
