A DWI changes the course of your life, at least in the short term. It can have lasting consequences, depending on how many times you’ve faced DWI charges and how high your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was over the limit.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported that over 1.4 million people were arrested for driving under the influence in 2010. Sometimes, that was due to alcohol, while other times it was drugs or a combination of drugs or alcohol.
As someone who is accused of a DWI, you need to know what you can do to protect yourself. The reality is that you can face a DWI even if you’re under the .08 percent limit that was put into place officially across the United States in 2002. Here’s what you can do.
1. Be respectful during the traffic stop
The last thing you want to do is to offend the officer who is arresting and booking you. Even if you don’t agree with the Breathalyzer or feel that they’re being rude to you, remain calm and remember that the way you act now could be used against you if it’s seen as irrational.
2. Take note of the readings
Another thing to do is to take note of the readings given on the breath test. Did you know that it’s normal to have a discrepancy of .01 percent? If the discrepancy is .02 percent or more in either direction, it’s time to question the breath test’s validity.
These are two things to remember if you’re stopped by police. Your actions may help or hurt your case, so be cautious.
