Help! I’ve been stopped for Impaired Driving, what does a DUI lawyer recommend I do

If you’ve been stopped by the police due to a suspicion of impaired driving our DUI lawyer in Greensboro, NC has some recommendations that may help you with your case. For starters, remain as calm as you can and do your best to focus on everything going on. Our impaired driving attorneys see it on a regular basis where a client does or attempts to do too much and it leads to a better case for the state.

In North Carolina, there are a number of steps when it comes to a Driving Under the Influence or Driving While Impaired charge. The first thing we look is the reason for the stop. In Greensboro, NC, the reason for the stop must be based on a reasonable suspicion. Our DWI lawyer often sees an officer state things like crossing the centerline, lights not on, swerving, and sadly speeding. Don’t drink and drive and even if you think and believe you’re fine to drive, remember, don’t break a rule of the road and give them a reasonable suspicion to stop your vehicle.

DUI Lawyer in Greensboro, NC

Let’s say you’ve been stopped for speeding or perhaps you’re driving through a DUI checkpoint, well both of those things would give the police a valid reason to stop your vehicle. If they have a valid reason for the stop then we look at probable cause. You’ve probably heard the term in music and various other places, but what is their probable cause to search or arrest you. Our DUI lawyers in Greensboro, NC, often see the police attempt what are called standardized field sobriety tests. Typically, the way it plays out is the person is stopped, the officer alleges an odor of alcohol, red glossy eyes, and issues with divided attention questions, such as providing them with your license and registration at the same time. 

DWI Attorney in Greensboro

After police have a reasonable suspicion of impaired driving their next step is the establishing of probable cause. When it comes to a DUI charge, they’re looking for you to blow in a portable breath test often referred to as PBT. This along with standardized field sobriety tests helps for law enforcement to make a probable cause determination. Our DWI attorney in Greensboro often sees the sobriety tests just after they smelled an odor of alcohol. These typically include three separate tests: the horizontal gaze nystagmus, the walk and turn, and the one-legged stand. The nystagmus test, according to DUI attorneys in Greensboro, involves an involuntary jerking of the eyes, which is what’s called a nystagmus. If you have alcohol in your system, your eyes will move uncontrollably left and right when examined according to NC Highway Patrol. Our top rated impaired driving attorneys see this test frequently. The walk and turn is just as it sounds walk so many paces in one direction and then turn around. The one legged stand involves standing on one leg without balancing or putting your foot down. Of issue with this test according to our DUI lawyers is that some people can’t stand on one foot sober, let alone after they’ve been drinking. This is an issue with these tests, is everyone is different. If you’ve had head injuries or on pain medication, this also can cause a nystagmus. If you have leg or foot issues it can cause issues with the walk and turn and the one-legged stand. Our top rated DWI lawyers in Greensboro, see these issues and attack them on a regular basis.

Impaired Driving Lawyer in Greensboro, NC

If after conducting the above mentioned tests, law enforcement finds that they have probable cause to arrest you and charge with driving while impaired they will take you downtown to the intoxilyzer. This machine is highly accurate and standardized to make sure there isn’t missed readings. In North Carolina you have the ability to refuse this test, but our Impaired Driving Lawyers foreworn you that if you refuse they can still take your blood and do a blood test. Our Greensboro DWI lawyers will tell you that North Carolina is an implied consent state meaning by driving on our highways in Greensboro, you impliedly consent to having your blood drawn should the police have a reasonable suspicion of impaired driving. Also, a refusal of the intoxilyzer will result in the revocation of your driver’s license for one year. These things are important to note when dealing with the prospect of a DWI charge. The question is do you think there’s any chance you could be above the .08 alcohol limit. If you believe you are, or that you might be, sadly it would probably be better to refuse to give our impaired driving lawyers the best chance at beating your DWI case.

Driving While Impaired Lawyer

At Garrett, Walker, Aycoth & Olson, Attorneys at Law, our DUI lawyers in Greensboro are focused on helping clients who are facing impaired driving charges. We actually write the book for impaired driving lawyers in North Carolina, and teach attorneys how to defend clients charged with impaired driving. Contact our top rated lawyers in Greensboro NC today if you or someone you know is in need of help with an impaired driving charge. We’re here to help!