| In most states, if you are suspected of drunk | | | | chat with police. |
| driving, you must take a blood alcohol | | | | |
| content test such as a breathalyzer when | | | | Refuse the DUI Field Sobriety Tests |
| asked to do so by police or face very harsh | | | | |
| penalties. But police must have reasonable | | | | If you are stopped by police the officer may |
| suspicion that you have been drinking before | | | | ask you to take a field sobriety test such as |
| they can ask you to take a BAC test. | | | | the one-leg-stand, finger-to-nose or the |
| | | | nystagmus test which involves the officer |
| To establish reasonable suspicion police use | | | | shining a flash light in your eyes and |
| a range of questions and DUI pre-screening or | | | | looking for erratic eye motion. |
| field sobriety tests. You are not required to | | | | |
| answer the questions or to participate in any | | | | These tests have just one purpose, to give |
| of the tests. If you do go along with these | | | | the officer the reasonable suspicion he or |
| tests you are only giving the officer the | | | | she needs to require you to take a BAC test. |
| reasonable suspicion he or she needs to | | | | You have almost no chance of passing these |
| require you to take a BAC test. | | | | tests. Some of them, like the one-leg-stand, |
| | | | could be difficult for a trained athlete to |
| Refuse to Have a Nice Chat and Avoid a DUI | | | | perform perfectly and your pass or fail grade |
| Test | | | | rests not with a panel of judges but entirely |
| | | | with the police officer. You are not required |
| One of the simplest ways for police to get | | | | to perform these tests and you should |
| the reasonable suspicion they need to | | | | politely refuse to do so without getting |
| administer a BAC test is to just ask you if | | | | drawn into a conversation with the officer. |
| you have had anything to drink. Do not admit | | | | Don't make excuses for not taking the test, |
| to having had even one drink. If you do, | | | | just refuse. |
| that's reasonable suspicion. | | | | |
| | | | The most important point to remember is that |
| The officer may also ask you where you have | | | | if you are charged with a DUI offence and the |
| been and what you've been doing. This may | | | | case ends up in court the officer must be |
| seem very innocent but if you admit to having | | | | able to justify requiring you to take the BAC |
| been out with friends or attending a sports | | | | test. Don't give the police extra ammunition |
| event or being anywhere where alcohol is | | | | by talking too much or taking a field |
| commonly served you have given the officer | | | | sobriety test that is all but impossible to |
| reasonable suspicion. You are not required to | | | | pass. |
| answer these questions or to have a friendly | | | | |