Georgia schools have never given their kids advice on what to do or not do if approached by police. High schools, colleges, and technical institutions all fall under this category. This maxim is especially important in traffic matters, and it also applies if an officer approaches you on foot.
Here, we’ll look at traffic stop interactions in which a DUI case is suspected. Knowing this information might save your driver’s license because you will never be allowed to postpone a police inquiry in order to contact a Georgia DUI lawyer. Furthermore, it may save a DUI conviction from tarnishing your criminal record for the rest of your life.
Things you Should Do; Recommendations from a Georgia DUI Lawyer:
If you’re facing a DUI arrest, here are five things you should do.
Show Your Hands
The best advice for drivers stopped by police is to keep their hands on the top portion of the steering wheel so the officer can see them. Officers prefer to see the driver’s hands, especially at night. If anyone else is in the car with you, advise them not to say or do anything, including talking to the cops. Unless they are asked for their identity, in which case they should just provide it.
Stay in Your Car Unless Ordered Out
Unless you are ordered out, stay in your vehicle. Only exit the car if you have been told or ordered to do so. Because a traffic ticket is normally given without the driver being requested to depart the car, this call for you to vacate the car is a sort of “custody.” Any Georgia DUI lawyer will advise you that you should not exit your vehicle unless you are asked to.
Stay Calm
Maintain a calm and quiet demeanor while remaining courteous to the cop. The majority of traffic encounters are taped, and your manner can assist or damage you. Some cops will detain anyone who refuses to speak with them or participate in field evaluations. This is a great case for experienced DUI defense attorneys to take on.
Agree to Take the Test
This is necessary for Georgia implied consent law notification if you are issued a “warning” from a green card immediately after being arrested. Our Georgia DUI lawyers advise that you answer YES. Tell the officer that you’d want to talk with an attorney as soon as possible, but that you’ll take the test. The final step, described in the following guideline, is the most crucial.
Ask for an Independent Test
Only individuals who respond YES to the test can seek (and pay for) an independent test under Georgia DUI legislation. This is provided by a competent medical practitioner of your choice who is located within a reasonable driving distance.
The officer must take you to the test site and accommodate your efforts to acquire this test in a reasonable manner. Our criminal defense lawyers advise choosing a hospital or 24-hour clinic in a neighboring county to the one where you were stopped. So for example, if you’re arrested in Cobb County, Georgia, ask to be sent to a Fulton County, Douglas County, or Bartow County hospital. If you need cash, ask to use an ATM, which is located within every hospital.
NHTSA Sobriety Tests:
Most people have seen reality TV shows where cops ask a suspected drunk driver to submit to field sobriety testing. Officers get a briefing on agility exercises (walk and turn and one leg stand) before taking the exams.
Three police tests are among SFSTs (standardized field sobriety tests) recommended by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, which is part of the United States Department of Transportation. The Department of Transportation is responsible for enhancing roadway safety in order to preserve lives and prevent traffic injuries.
In addition, most DUI cases include one eye psychophysical test (known as horizontal gaze nystagmus in police training). Doctors name this test lateral gaze nystagmus, and they do it in a dark, medical examining room. Never consent to the horizontal gaze nystagmus test since you now know that a poorly qualified officer with just a GED wants to perform a medical exam.
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Only around 10% of Georgia DUI lawyers have completed ALL of the most advanced training courses for defending clients facing DUI charges, yet all our DUI lawyers have. By entrusting your defense to any other GA DUI attorney, you are gambling with your best chance of a non-DUI settlement to your case. Get in touch with us right now for a free consultation.