The holiday season comes with an increase in festive gatherings that will likely include alcoholic beverages. Having a designated driver can help to keep everyone safe, but that’s not always how life works out.
Here are a few points you need to remember about drunk driving enforcement this holiday season.
1. Reasons for the stop
Police officers need to have a valid reason to conduct the traffic stop. Ohio allows for sobriety checkpoints so that might be the reason for the stop. Officers can also pull a driver over if they see signs of drunk driving. This includes things like making illegal turns or failing to follow traffic signs of signals.
2. Chemical testing caveat
Once an officer initiates a traffic stop, they’ll try to find out what’s going on. They may ask the driver to take a field sobriety test or a roadside breath test. Remember, roadside breath tests are often unreliable. The results from these preliminary alcohol screening devices aren’t admissible in court. Results that are for the court must come from a stationary breath test machine or another chemical test, such as a blood or urine test.
3. Rights still apply
Your rights all apply during a drunk driving stop and arrest. If you’re arrested, you should be read your Miranda rights. You can invoke those by clearly stating that you wish to remain silent. It’s crucial for you to remember that anything you tell the police officers, including what you say if they ask how many drinks you’ve had, can be used in court.
Determining your defense strategy when you’re facing drunk driving charges is important. Some options might be time-sensitive so you should review the options right away. Working with someone who’s familiar with these cases in Ohio can help you to find out more about what’s possible for your case.