Police officers have a lot to watch on any given shift. This holiday weekend is no exception to this. In an effort to keep the roads safe, police officers will be out in full force. This means that there isn't going to be any tolerance for drunk drivers. Instead, anyone who is going to drink alcohol this weekend needs to make sure that they can get home without driving.
There are many different signs that might lead a police officer to pull a vehicle over. Refreshing your memory about what constitutes reasonable suspicion for a traffic stop might help you as you go through this long weekend.
Reasonable suspicion is much different from probable cause. Reasonable suspicion is a lower standard that means the police officer only has to see something that would make a reasonable person think that there is something illegal going on.
A car that is swerving or stopping for no reason could give the officer probable cause to make a stop. Speeding, running red lights, driving much slower than the speed limit and making illegal turns are all actions that can lead to you being pulled over. Of course, the officer can stop you if you are doing anything that is against the law. Driving at night with no headlights or having a broken taillight can lead to a traffic stop.
If you are facing a drunk driving charge due to holiday festivities, make sure that you start working on your defense quickly. You need to find out how you can protect your rights and interests throughout the process.
Source: FindLaw, "What is Reasonable Suspicion for a DUI Stop?," accessed June 30, 2017