New Years is just around the corner. If you have some parties to attend, be prepared for the ride home, especially if you plan to indulge in some alcoholic beverages. Law enforcement officials will be out in force on New Year's Eve. The last thing you want to do is get arrested for a DUI. Many people try to avoid DUI arrests by pulling off the road to sleep it off. But, that's not always an effective way to avoid arrest. In fact, even if your car is parked, you can still get arrested for a DUI, especially if the police think that you're in control of your car. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself during a DUI stop. Here are three of them.
Put Your Keys Away
If you try to leave a party after having a few drinks, but realize that you're too drunk to drive, pull off the road. As soon as you're off the road, take the keys out the ignition and put them into your pocket. That way, if the police do approach your vehicle, they'll see that you don't have the immediate ability to start your car and drive off. This step can help you to avoid a DUI arrest while you're in a parked car.
Move to the Backseat
If you've pulled off the road, or into a parking lot to give yourself time to sober up, don't stay in the front seat of the car, especially not the driver's seat. Being in the driver's seat can still signal to the officer that you're in control of your car. Instead, as soon as you have your car safely parked, get into the backseat. If the police do approach your car, they'll see that you're in the backseat, and unable to drive your car.
Request Your Attorney
If your attempts to sober up on the side of the road fail, and police do threaten you with a DUI, the first thing you need to do is request an attorney. Once you request an attorney, they must stop questioning you. If they do continue with questions once you've asked for an attorney, they can't use anything you say against you. Once you speak to your DUI lawyer, let them know if the police questioned you once you'd requested legal assistance.
If you plan to drink during the New Year's Eve festivities this year, know what to do if you find yourself too drunk to drive. Use the tips provided here to protect yourself from a DUI charge.
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