The best way to avoid a DUI is to avoid drinking, to begin with. But how do you do that when you’re out partying with your friends? Sometimes it is avoidable, and other times, not so much, but you should at least try to stay sober or not sit behind the wheel in a less than alert state.
If things do get rough, then the least you can do is to stay cooperative with the police officers and contact a DUI defense lawyer in Portland so that your rights are respected. Whatever the case, it pays to be careful to begin with than rushing for damage control afterward.
What Is DUI & Why You Should Be Careful?
Driving under influence or DUI is when a person is apprehended by the police with more than the legal blood alcohol concentration which is .08% for anyone who is at least the legal age of drinking. Otherwise (if you’re under-aged), even in the slightest amount, alcohol consumption is illegal.
Of course, a police officer must have reasonable suspicion of a DUI before they can stop you. When they do, they’ll have to take an alcohol breath test, which is mostly performed with a breath analyzer – you simply breathe into the machine, and it detects alcohol vapors in your breath to see whether you’ve been drinking or not and how much.
If the blood alcohol concentration does happen to show up more than the legally allowed amount, then you’ll be in trouble.
Even at this stage, you are not obliged to agree with everything that the police officer asks for. You can refuse to give your consent for a car search, decline taking field sobriety tests, refuse to give a statement or answer questions (right to silence), and so on. You should act just as such because otherwise, there can be troubles.
You should discuss your case with a lawyer as soon as possible and then proceed with the legal proceedings hereafter.
How To Avoid DUI
But can’t you just skip the whole mess?
No one can force you to get drunk, and you don’t have to drive if you’re not feeling perfectly in your sense or if you’ve had too much to drink.
Let’s explore some ways you can avoid getting a DUI in the first place.
In the end, your decisions will matter the most. It is you who can decide to take another shot or call it a day at the bar, you can refuse to drink too much at a party (or at all, if you’re going to drive), you can ask someone else to drive you home (or call a cab) if you don’t feel like getting behind the wheel.
Whether or not you get a DUI will depend on your ability to make informed and calculated decisions.
Here’s what you can do to avoid trouble:
- If you feel dizzy, even if a little bit (does not matter how much you had had to drink), then ask someone else to drive you home.
- Don’t get behind the wheel unless you’re completely in your senses.
- Make a no-drinking habit or rule if you’re out alone because no one else will be able to drive you home, and you will most probably get pulled over for drunk driving.
- If your friends pressure you for a drink, don’t feel obligated to do so, it is okay to say no especially when you have to drive afterward.
- If you failed to control your alcohol intake, call an Uber or Lyft ride instead of driving home.
- Try to plan your parties and get-togethers in bars and restaurants that have a serving limit so that you don’t consume more than you can handle.
- If someone you’re with has had too much to drink, take away their keys so that they won’t get behind the wheel, even if they get mad at you, you need to protect them from the consequences.
Hopefully, this will keep you from getting into a ton of trouble.
Contact Us If You Get Into Trouble
Despite your best efforts, sometimes things can get out of control, and there is nothing you can do about them. If you do get pulled over for DUI in Portland, don’t be aggressive, you’ll only make things worse for you, your best bet is to be cooperative with the police officers, exercise your rights at the spot, and as soon as you can, call the Trilogy Law Group for legal representation.
Our lawyers will make sure that your rights are respected and that you’re out of this mess sooner than otherwise.
