Police officers who are on patrol have a duty to keep their jurisdictions as safe as possible. One way that they do this is to try to watch for signs of impaired drivers so they can take steps to get those drivers off the road. In order to conduct a traffic stop for the suspicion of drunk driving, the officer must have reasonable suspicion.
The standard of reasonable suspicion to conduct a suspected drunk-driving stop is fairly easy to meet. The officer must see something that a reasonable person would believe indicates the driver is impaired.
What are some signs that may amount to reasonable suspicion?
There are many signs of impaired driving that a police officer may look for. These may include:
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Failing to maintain proper lane position
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Changing lanes or turning without a signal
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Stopping without a valid reason
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Leaving the headlights off from dusk to dawn or in inclement weather
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Hitting or nearly hitting objects on the side of the road
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Driving too fast or too slow for the current conditions
If the officer notices any of these signs, they’ll stop the vehicle and try to find out what’s going on with the driver. This can include talking to the driver, having them take a field sobriety test or asking them to take a chemical test. If there’s evidence that the driver is impaired, they’ll arrest the individual.
Facing impaired driving charges is a serious matter. These defendants may opt to work with someone familiar with these matters so they can determine the defense strategy that’s in their best interests.