The police may pull over a vehicle because they suspect the driver of drunk driving. However, if there is not enough evidence to arrest the driver for drunk driving, the police may use several methods to collect evidence.
Here is what drivers should expect if they are pulled over by the police under the suspicion of drunk driving:
Questions from the police
The police may begin a traffic stop by asking the driver several questions. These questions may be related to where the driver is going to or coming from. The driver may also be asked if they have been drinking. Another question the police may ask is if the driver is aware of why they were stopped. This question is usually used to get a driver to admit to some kind of wrongdoing.
Drivers can refuse to answer questions from the police by pleading the Fifth or clearly stating that they will not answer any questions.
Field sobriety tests
A driver may be asked to do a field sobriety test. Field sobriety tests are a form of physical examination. The driver may, for example, be asked to walk in a straight line, stand on one leg or follow an object with their eyes. The police use these tests to look for signs of inebriation.
Chemical sobriety tests
One of the more conclusive methods the police may use during a traffic stop to catch a drunk driver is having them take a chemical sobriety test. There are three kinds of chemical sobriety tests: breath, blood and urine tests. These tests evaluate a driver’s blood alcohol content, which is the amount of alcohol in the body. If a driver has a high blood alcohol content, they could be arrested.
If a driver believes they were wrongly arrested for drunk driving, they can reach out for legal guidance to learn about their defense options.