What Are Police Looking for When Targeting for Drunk Drivers
Have you been charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in Cobb County? If so, you may be wondering what specifically the police saw when they decided to pull you over. Why did they target your vehicle specifically? Most drivers are unaware that police officers are trained to look for specific clues that indicate that a driver is impaired. In this article, the Smyrna DUI attorneys at Andrew L. Schwartz P.C. will discuss what police look for when targeting bad drivers on the road.
What are police looking for when targeting drunk drivers?
The first clue that an officer has that a driver is under the influence of alcohol is the quality of their driving. Police are watching for erratic driving, such as weaving, drifting, or swerving. In other cases, the driver may have difficulty maintaining the proper lane position. They may be driving too slowly. All of these are potential signs of impairment for police officers.
The next clue involves how the driver responds to being pulled over. If the driver pulls over right away and safely, this is usually a good sign that they are not impaired. However, if the driver takes a long time to pull over or pulls over in an unsafe manner, this would indicate that the driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Officers will also look for problems with speeding or braking. If a driver displays varying speeds or unnecessary acceleration, or brakes for no apparent reason, then the officer might suspect the driver of driving under the influence. In other cases, the driver may be driving too slowly. The driver may also stop inappropriately, such as at a green light. These would definitely constitute signs of impairment to the officer.
In other cases, the driver will make poor decisions before they even start driving. If, for example, the driver forgets to turn their lights on at night, police will take this as a strong indicator that the driver is under the influence of alcohol. Failing to signal when turning is another clue that will likely result in being pulled over by police.
Police will also look for judgment problems, such as following too closely, illegal turns, or improper lane changes. Inappropriate or unusual behavior, such as driving on the wrong side of the road, will also be taken as a sign of impairment.
Does such behavior always indicate impairment?
No. But if you’re a police officer and someone is driving in a manner described above, you probably bet that the officer is thinking that the driver is probably drunk. In other cases, the driver may be lost or unfamiliar with the area they are driving in. It’s impossible for an officer to determine whether or not you are impaired based solely on the quality of your driving. Nonetheless, they’ll check to be sure.
Talk to a Smyrna, GA DUI Defense Lawyer Today
Andrew L. Schwartz, P.C. represents the interests of Smyrna residents in DUI cases. Call our Cobb County criminal defense lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin preparing your defense right away.
