5 Steps to Avoid Dui Arrests

As states are increasing their efforts to crack down on drunk driving, residents too can educate themselves on ways to avoid this legal headache. Here are five tips to avoid getting arrested for DUI:

1. Ditch the Diet Soda – Studies show that if you mix alcoholic beverages with diet soda or low-calorie drinks, the chances of intoxication are increased. The science behind this was revealed in studies that demonstrated how the liver processes lower calories faster. Similar studies showed that drinking with a full stomach delays the process of intoxication.
2. Avoid DUI Checkpoints – Roads that contain heavy traffic 24/7 are infamous for hidden police checkpoints. Map your GPS to avoid tolls and highways, or take an alternative route. In any event, if you do run into a random DUI checkpoint, have your lawyer check to see if this was a legitimate setup. Some states have restrictions regarding DUI checkpoints, since well-trained officers will be required to conduct standardized field sobriety tests in the right manner.
3. Prepare Legal Documents for Driving – Every safe and responsible driver or owner of a vehicle can avoid traffic tickets, license suspension, or legal headaches by simply keeping the required documents up-to-date. This includes the vehicle registration, driver's license and insurance. Policies for insurance can be setup for auto-pay to avoid lapses in coverage. In addition, many states now offer convenient online portals for renewing a vehicle's registration as well as residents' licenses. If there are expirations with any of these documents, an officer may be obligated to investigate or have a probable cause to signal a stop.
4. Check Your Headlights – In close relation to the above point, many experts advise that basic car signals are functional when driving – especially the headlights and tailgates. A subsequent stop can be made by an arresting officer if these are dysfunctional, where the driver maybe suspected of DUI.
5. Refuse FSTs or Field Sobriety Tests – These are not mandatory, and each driver has the right to politely decline with no negative consequences at stake.

A DUI arrest can rack up a tidy sum of your time and financial resources. The best tip for avoiding a DUI arrest is to not drink and drive. Instead, assign a designated driver or call a cab when transportation is needed. If you do find yourself being accused or arrested of DUI, contact an attorney right away. A DUI defense lawyer is able to prove a defendant's innocence or arrange plea bargains for lower sentencing.

Written by Randy Collins