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Memorial Day is Coming! Know Your Rights at a DUI Checkpoint

May 25, 2016
By The Wiseman Law Firm

With 2016 Memorial Day weekend just around the corner, many of us will be getting ready to go on vacation or enjoy some fun in the sun with friends and family. Amongst the grilling and good times, it is without a doubt that many Americans will be enjoying a few alcoholic beverages. While this is all good fun, it is important to remember to drink responsibly as law enforcement will surely be setting up various sobriety checkpoints in search of drunk drivers. To help you avoid an untimely 2016 Memorial Day driving under the influence (DUI) charge, our firm has compiled a list of tips that can help you be aware of your rights and keep you on the right side of the law.

1. Say as little as possible: When you are stopped at a DUI checkpoint, an officer may ask you several questions about where you have been or where you are going in hopes that you will freely admit incriminating information. Do not do it! Remain polite, present your license and information, but do not answer any of the officer’s questions. Anything you say can and will be used against you.

2. Do not consent to a search: The police may not conduct a search of your vehicle without either a warrant, probable cause, or your consent. If the police ask to search your vehicle, say no. You are not breaking any laws by denying an officer a search, despite what the police may lead you to believe.

3. You may deny a field sobriety test: If the police suspect you may be intoxicated, they will likely pull you to the side of the road and ask you to take a field sobriety test. These tests may include a one-leg stand test, a walk-and-turn test, a horizontal gaze test, or even a handheld breathalyzer test and are meant to provide the officer with a means to gauge your level of intoxication. These tests are completely optional and you are well within your rights to decline participation. It is important to note, however, that any chemical tests requested after you have already been arrested are mandatory and can result in a license suspension if refused.

Arrested? Call The Wiseman Law Firm

If you should be arrested for DUI during 2016 Memorial Day weekend, our Orlando DUI lawyers can defend your freedom and fight for a reduction or dismissal of your charges on your behalf. Backed by 15+ years of trial-tested criminal defense experience, we have what it takes to help you secure the results you need.

Call (407) 708-9172 or schedule an initial consultation today to get started.

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