Avoid These DUI Decision Errors
Most people enjoy a cocktail or a beer after a long week. However, responsible adults know that they can enjoy those drinks without involving a vehicle in their activities. DUI charges can affect your life for many months and in some cases years. A DUI charge can affect your driving record, your insurance premium, and your job. Therefore, making the decision errors below should be avoided at all costs:
1-Deciding to Drive
Your desire to get out to the club or bar to sit down with a fresh drink should not override your desire to get there safely and lawfully. Driving there could be no problem, but if you're like many who imbibe, you just aren't sure at which point you shouldn't drive anywhere else. You might think about it and decide you're okay, but an intoxicated person is rarely the best judge of their own abilities. Avoid counting on your drunken mind to make a serious decision about getting home. Before you drink, arrange a taxi, ride or other means of getting back home. Ask others to check on you so that you keep those plans.
2-Refusing to Cooperate
Unfortunately, someone who operates any vehicle after drinking is likely to continue making additional errors. If you should come into contact with a law enforcement professional, you may get testy and argumentative, especially if you think they're implying that you aren't in good shape to drive. You may sneer at the idea of sobriety tests and flat out refuse to use any machines to test your breath. Even worse, you might declare that you have rights which make those tests unnecessary.
What you may not even know is that your state has determined that all licensed individuals have given tacit approval to take whatever tests are asked of them regarding driving. Your refusal could be a grave error that costs you that license. If you thought you'd evade an arrest because there wasn't concrete proof of your intoxication, an officer can truthfully testify that you were likely inebriated based on your glassy-eyed appearance, belligerence and swerving driving actions.
3-Going It Alone
When everything's calm, you're sober, and you're going crazy waiting for court time to arrive, you may feel regret. You may be rather sorry about embarrassing yourself and being detained and want to accept what the judge decides. However, this is another bad judgment error. Realize that you may face fines, license points and other negative repercussions which could make life difficult for some time. Your regret may be valid, but do what you can to salvage your situation by retaining a serious DUI lawyer.
Be smarter about your personal actions in a DUI-related situation. Your DUI attorney will offer truthful guidance going forward.