If you drink in Atlanta, be sure you do not drive. The police in Atlanta take drunk driving seriously, and if you are convicted of DUI, you could end up in jail, fined, and possibly lose your license. Call our Atlanta DUI attorneys at Shani O. Brooks, P.C. today for immediate legal assistance if you were arrested recently for DUI.
Under the US Constitution, you have the right to remain silent when arrested by the police, so take advantage of it. You cannot talk your way out of a DUI arrest if that is what the police intend to do. If you speak and incriminate yourself, You will only make the situation worse (and more difficult for your attorney later).
However, you are required to give the police your name and address. Assuming that information is on your driver’s license, you can infer they got it from that document unless you did not have it. Therefore, you should not answer any questions besides providing your name and address. Just ask for a DUI lawyer.
While you can refuse to answer most questions the police ask you during a DUI stop – and you should – you cannot refuse to get out of the vehicle when asked. Or, if the police tell you to put your hands behind your back, obey, or you will be cited for resisting arrest as well as DUI.
However, an important exception is the field sobriety tests the Atlanta police might ask you to complete before arresting you. You are not required to do them; many 100% sober people cannot complete them correctly, either.
You do not need to say much during a DUI arrest, and your silence cannot be used against you in court. However, always be polite, and remember that the police will note your demeanor in the police report. There also is a good chance you are being recorded, so being rude will hurt you.
If you had anything to drink or took any drugs (legal or illegal), be careful about allowing tests of your breath, urine, or blood. If you have had anything, you should not take these tests. Remember that under the state constitution, not taking a breath or urine test cannot be used against you. However, if you do not allow to be tested, your license will likely be suspended for a year. But your attorney will investigate your case and determine if you have defenses against the state’s implied consent laws.
The best thing to do when being arrested for DUI in Atlanta is to say as little as possible and ask for your lawyer. This puts it on the record that you asked for a lawyer and you should not be questioned further.
If arrested for DUI in Atlanta, you could lose your license, go to jail, and more. But with your attorney’s help, you have a chance for a better case outcome. Contact our Atlanta DUI lawyer at Shani O. Brooks, P.C. today at (404) 920-4736.