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DUI: What you should know?
What You Should Know: DUI
Typically, when a police officer stops you while driving a motor vehicle and you've been drinking alcohol, the following events are likely to occur:
1. You will be asked for your driver's license and registration.
2. The officer will attempt to determine whether you have been drinking alcohol by detecting the odor on or about your person.
3. The officer may ask you whether or not you had been drinking or ask you to step out of the vehicle to perform field sobriety tests.
4. Depending on the results of the field sobriety tests, you may be placed under arrest, hand cuffed and transported to the police station.
5. At any time prior to arrest, the officer may ask you to take a preliminary breath test.
6. Once you have reached the police station, you will be advised of your right to take a breathalyzer test to determine the level of blood alcohol in your body.
7. If you take the chemical test and the result is .08 or more, you will be charged with driving while intoxicated and you will have to appear before the motor vehicle administration to keep your driver's license from being suspended or revoked.
8. If you refuse to take the breathalyzer test, you will have to appear before the motor vehicle administration in order to attempt to prevent a suspension or revocation of your license.
9. If your charges result in a conviction in Court, you will undoubtedly face an increase of your insurance premiums and, depending on your prior driving record, maybe cancelled by your insurance company.
10. In the event that your case goes to Court, you will be subjected to a jail sentence which may range from 60 days to a year or more of incarceration and a fine from $500 to $1,000 in addition to receiving probation for up to 3 years.
How do you prevent this from happening? The answer is simple. DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL AND THEN DRIVE A MOTOR VEHICLE.
Although drinking and driving is not a crime, there are ways to lose your license even if you're not guilty.
Helpful Tips:
Use a designated driver who has not consumed alcohol prior to driving.
If there is no sober designated driver available, arrange for alternative transportation or stay where you are if at all possible.
Call someone who is able to remove you safely to your destination.