What Are The Ways To Make Through A DUI Checkpoint Without Even Opening Your Window

Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs can get you in trouble. After all, an intoxicated driver does not only endanger his own life – in addition, he or she puts at risk lives of all other people on the road as well. Hence, you should think twice before drinking and getting behind the wheel.

With that said, there are also pretty harmless situations. For example, you were invited to your best friends’ wedding party. Of course, you simply cannot miss such an exciting event. You take your car and drive to the place of celebration. Seeing how you will have to drive back home, you are not planning to drink at all. However, all your friends are at the party and your best pal is a bit offended because you did not want to join him with one drink. One drink and nothing more, so you figure – a single drink is not going to do any harm. You take a small glass of wine and then party comes to an end. You start driving home, when suddenly you stumble upon a Los Angeles DUI checkpoint, full of vigilant law enforcement officers. Chances are, you will be asked to step out of your vehicle and to handle your papers to the police officer. A simple DUI test will show that you are intoxicated and nothing you say will change that. You are probably going to be arrested and taken to jail. And then you will have to pay a big fine and perform community service. Things can get more ugly if you will not have a professional Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer on your side.

The above-mentioned situation is actually a very real one. People often find themselves in situations like this. Besides, the punishment for driving under influence may be much more severe, depending on what state you are in. For instance, in the state of California, some Los Angeles DUI misdemeanors are punishable with jail time, so it is definitely not something you would like to experience.

Here are some useful suggestions that might help you in case you are pulled over at the DUI checkpoint in Los Angeles. First of all you should know your basic legal rights that will help you avoid any unpleasant complications. Hence, if you were driving back from your best friend’s wedding party, where your drunk a glass of wine and you speed up a bit, do not panic, even though you were stopped by the police officers. When asked to step out of the vehicle, inform the officers that you intend to remain silent and inside your vehicle. If you did break the speed limit, you can always tell the police to put any tickets under your windshield, but you are not obliged to leave your car. In addition, you are not obliged to hand them your driving license. Instead, you are obliged to show it, so you can demonstrate all your papers through your window. In case the law enforcement officers claim that they need to search your vehicle, do not allow them unless they show you a search warrant.

Thus, to summarize the facts – even if you were pulled over for speeding or are suspected in driving under influence of alcohol or drugs, you still have your legal rights that cannot be violated even by the law enforcement officers. You have the right to remain silent as well as to stay inside your vehicle. You are not obliged to give your papers to the police, instead, you can show it to them from the inside of the car. The law enforcement officers have no right to search your car, if you demand to acquire a search warrant. It is very important to understand that some situations at the DUI checkpoint can be resolved nice and easy.

Nevertheless, you should also know that those rights and those rules do not apply for all circumstances. At times, the police officers will have the right to search your car in line with some particular suspicions or due to your violent behavior. They will have the right to demand from you to pass the DUI test, because of your actions and so on. It is quite obvious that driving under influence is very dangerous and you should avoid doing so at all times. However, if you feel that the situation is under control, just remain in your vehicle. That way, you will save your nerves, time and efforts and will be able to act after seeking proper advice from the local Los Angeles attorney. Know your rights and do not neglect to use them.