Police officers who are patrolling communities try to do what they can to keep the streets safe. One thing that most of them do is try to keep drunk drivers off the road. What some people may not realize is that police officers can’t pull vehicles over just because they feel like it. Instead, they need to have at least reasonable suspicion in order to conduct a traffic stop.
Reasonable suspicion is a legal standard that allows law enforcement to stop a driver when specific facts suggest that there is criminal activity going on. The key to this is that the signs the officer observes that indicate drunk driving should be signs that any reasonable person would believe point to that conclusion.
What are some examples of reasonable suspicion?
There are a variety of signs of impaired driving that police officers may look for. They may note that a person has difficulty maintaining lane position, is stopping without a valid cause or isn’t responding to current traffic conditions in a suitable manner.
Once an officer sees signs of impaired driving, they may opt to conduct a traffic stop to determine what’s going on with the driver. This often starts with talking to the driver, observing their behavior and checking the interior of the vehicle.
Signs of alcohol, such as the smell of alcohol on the driver’s breath or seeing open containers in the vehicle, may lead to more actions by the officer. This may include field sobriety or chemical tests, which are conducted in an effort to get probable cause for an arrest.
Anyone who is arrested for drunk driving should ensure they understand their options for a defense strategy. Working with someone who understands the situation and how drunk driving laws apply is beneficial for these individuals.