There are a lot of ways to ruin perfectly fine evenings out in New York, with friends. One is to get pulled over by police on your way home on suspicion of drunk driving. Since, as the saying goes, anything you say or do could be used against you in court, it’s really important to make informed, thought-out decisions when answering any questions a police officer at the scene of a traffic stop may ask you.
Beyond providing appropriate documentation for personal identification information or vehicle identification, registration and insurance inquiries, you do not have to say anything. If the circumstances are such that an arrest appears certain, it may make sense to politely decline to answer questions and indicate that you’d like to consult legal counsel. One of the most beneficial services an experienced defense attorney can provide is to protect your rights. That process can begin even before any charges have been filed.
A police officer may ask that you step out of your car, submit to field sobriety tests or take a Breathalyzer or other chemical test if he or she thinks your blood alcohol content level is above the legal limit for driving. Such issues may affect the ultimate outcome of your situation, and not necessarily for the better. Do you know Breathalyzer test results are often faulty? You can decline to participate in any tests requested by police, though a refusal to submit to a blood, breath, urine or saliva test (police officer gets to choose) typically results in an automatic suspension of your drivers’ license under New York’s implied consent law.
You can reach out for support from the Law Offices of Joseph J. Tock in New York. We have gone to bat many times for various people charged with drunk driving and other traffic violations. In fact, we have defended thousands of cases. With an experienced, aggressive attorney by your side in court, you may be able to avoid conviction or, at least lessen the possible long-term negative repercussions of your situation.
