People who are pulled over for the suspicion of drunk driving may sometimes wonder why the police officer pulled them over. This isn’t always easy for them to ascertain, but it can play a critical role in a criminal defense strategy.
In order to conduct a traffic stop, the officer must have seen something that amounts to reasonable suspicion that a law is being broken. In the case of a suspected drunk driving stop, this is typically because of things they notice that are commonly associated with impaired driving.
What are some of the signs that may indicate impaired driving?
Drivers who are impaired by alcohol or other substances face changes to their ability to drive safely. For some, this means that they drive too slow or too fast for the current conditions. Some other common signs include:
- Failing to maintain proper lane position
- Stopping without having a valid reason
- Disobeying traffic signs or signals
- Hitting the curb or driving off the road
- Driving without headlights when they’re required
In some cases, the officer won’t need reasonable suspicion of drunk driving to initiate the traffic stop. This occurs if there’s another violation, such as a burned-out headlight or an expired license plate. If the officer stops a vehicle for those reasons and finds probable cause that the driver is impaired, they can arrest the individual.
Anyone who’s facing drunk driving charges should consider every fact in the case to determine the best option for their defense strategy. Working with someone familiar with these cases may be helpful throughout the process.