What can cause an officer to suspect you of drunk driving?

Traffic stops for suspected drunk driving are an all-too-common occurrence for automobile drivers here in Kentucky and other parts of the United States. It’s the most likely interaction that any average person will ever have with law enforcement in their lives. A police officer is likely to suspect that a motorist who operates their car recklessly is driving under the influence (DUI) more so than others here in Bowling Green.

Driving under the influence is illegal in all 50 states. The legal limit for a blood alcohol content (BAC) here in Kentucky and virtually every other state is .08%. A BAC of .02% for motorists under the age of 21 is considered a DUI here.

There are a variety of techniques that police use to determine whether a person may be operating their vehicle while intoxicated.

Police officers will often watch motorists as they drive to see if they’re operating their vehicles erratically. They’ll often look to see if you’re swerving, speeding, driving too slowly or if you fail to stop or yield. If you do any of these, then you may get pulled over on suspicion that you’re DUI

It’s common for law enforcement officers to pull over motorists who they see driving without lights on after dark or those who have an improperly displayed license plate. Either one of these behaviors may send a message to a police officer that a Bowling Green motorist is up to no good.

Police officers who suspect a motorist is intoxicated may perform a variety of field sobriety tests to confirm their suspicions. These may involve having a motorist try to walk a straight line, have them stand on one leg or perform a speech test. They also look for pupil dilation. Law enforcement officers generally perform Breathalyzer tests or blood or urine tests after motorists fail the field sobriety tests.

If you’ve been charged with driving under the influence, then you will be facing some serious penalties. You may end up with points on your license, a suspended license and even a revoked license. The outcome in your case greatly depends on whether it’s your first or subsequent time facing DUI charges. An experienced attorney can review your case and discuss potential defense strategies that you may be able to pursue in your Kentucky legal matter.