| Attorneys who specialize in the practice of DUI law will | | | | The concentration of alcohol in your bloodstream is a |
| tell you it's simple: Do not drink and drive. | | | | result of your weight, metabolism, and rate of |
| "It's not a paradox or contradiction," says Brandon | | | | consumption. For most people, one drink per hour will |
| Williams, a southern California DUI lawyer. "All day | | | | keep them under the legal limit, and blood alcohol |
| every day in court, I defend clients against DUI | | | | calculators are widely available via the internet. "One |
| charges. Because of what I see in the courtroom, I | | | | drink" means a beer, a glass of wine, or a standard |
| fiercely advocate strict enforcement of DUI laws. | | | | shot of "hard" liquor-the kind of alcohol makes no |
| Drunk driving causes catastrophic pain and suffering | | | | difference in your blood alcohol content. |
| for families and communities." | | | | DUI laws outline the basics of a DUI defense |
| DUI laws encourage an ounce of prevention | | | | If you carefully follow the requirements of the DUI |
| Two fundamental rules in the DUI laws largely | | | | laws, you can trace the outlines of a strong legal |
| determine whether or not you are cited for driving | | | | defense. Because conviction on a charge of driving |
| under the influence: First, a police officer must have | | | | under the influence carries very serious consequences, |
| probable cause for stopping and questioning you. And, | | | | you should retain experienced, aggressive legal counsel |
| second, in all fifty United States, the law regards you | | | | to represent you in a DUI proceeding; but to participate |
| as legally intoxicated if your blood alcohol content | | | | fully in your own defense, you also should understand |
| measures 0.08. | | | | how the DUI laws can turn to your advantage. |
| Although swerving and driving erratically do not | | | | First and most importantly, the arresting officer must |
| automatically constitute violations of the law, they often | | | | have probable cause for stopping you. Anonymous |
| give officers probable cause for stopping you. More | | | | tips in the absence of clear signs that your driving skills |
| frequently, the police will stop you because they have | | | | are impaired will not stand-up under the court's scrutiny. |
| received anonymous tips that you are driving under | | | | Similarly, minor driving errors-when they endanger no |
| the influence. If the police officer detects even the | | | | one and do not, in and of themselves, constitute |
| faintest sign of intoxication as he or she questions you, | | | | moving violations-do not give an officer probable |
| the interrogation may proceed to field sobriety testing | | | | cause for a stop. The same rules apply to field |
| and chemical testing. Most law enforcement agencies | | | | sobriety testing: if, during the officer's interrogation, you |
| use "breathalyzer" tests, and those test are legally | | | | gave no clear indication that you had been drinking or |
| admissible when police officers properly administer the | | | | were under the influence of alcohol, the officer has no |
| tests. If you are stopped for suspicion of drunk driving, | | | | good reason to conduct field sobriety testing. If the |
| you may request a blood test instead of the | | | | officer should not have stopped you or did not have |
| breathalyzer, but many states require you to surrender | | | | good grounds for testing you, then the DUI laws require |
| your driver's license if you request a special test or | | | | that the court dismiss your case. |
| refuse testing altogether. | | | | |