7 Tips if You’ve Been Pulled Over for a DUI

From the moment you are pulled over for a DUI, your actions can have a significant impact on the outcome of your case.

• The criminal penalties associated with a California DUI can be harsh, even for a first offense.

• Being pulled over for a DUI can also result in the suspension of your driver’s license.

• Contacting an experienced defense attorney should be your first course of action after being pulled over for a DUI.

• With a skilled defense attorney on your side, you may be able to minimize or avoid many of the penalties associated with a California DUI offense.

What to Do if You’re Pulled Over for a DUI

California DUI cases can be complicated, and from the moment you are pulled over, anything you say or do can have a significant impact on the outcome of your case. The following are our top seven tips to consider if you have been pulled over for a DUI in California:

1. Contact Sevens Legal to discuss your legal options.

We will always recommend contacting an attorney as the best first step to take following a DUI arrest. There is no one more prepared to assess your specific situation and recommend a suitable course of action than a knowledgeable DUI defense attorney. Our San Diego defense lawyers at Sevens Legal are well-versed in California DUI laws and can guide you in the right direction.

2. Don’t say anything to the police.

It is completely natural to want to defend yourself or explain your situation if you have been pulled over for a DUI. But, if there is one thing you take away from our list of tips, let it be this: Anything you say can and will be used against you. We cannot stress enough how important it is to avoid making any admissions to the officers who pull you over, even when they ask if you’ve had anything to drink or if you know why you’ve been pulled over. If you’re arrested and the officers try to get you to talk, simply let them know your lawyer will be in touch.

3. Don’t participate in or cooperate with law enforcement’s investigation.

The police are going to try to collect any information they can to prove your guilt. You can protect your rights by simply refusing to participate in their investigation. That means you should not give them access to your cell phone, let them take your DNA, or allow them inside your home without a warrant. If you are pulled over for a DUI, you have the right to respectfully decline to perform any field sobriety tests. These tests are designed to determine whether you have been driving under the influence, and the police will use them against you.

4. Don’t talk about your arrest.

This is one of the biggest mistakes we see people make when they are arrested for a DUI. Your best bet is to avoid discussing your arrest with anyone but your attorney.

5. Pass the attitude test.

We know a DUI can be incredibly stressful, but our advice is to remain calm and respectful at all times. Don’t let the officers get you riled up. They may use this as a technique to get you talking in hopes that you will slip up and confess to committing a crime. Keep this in mind: If you are brought to the police station or jail, you should not refuse the chemical test. This will result in an automatic one-year suspension of your driver’s license from the DMV.

6. Call someone to arrange for your bail if you are arrested and booked into jail.

If you are arrested and taken to jail, you may be released if you can post bail. As soon as you have the opportunity, call someone to arrange for your bail. Remember not to say anything about your arrest over the phone. Phone calls are recorded and anything you say on the call can be used against you.

7. Call our reputable DUI defense team at Sevens Legal.

We will reiterate how important it is to hire an expert DUI defense attorney to help you out of this difficult situation. Our top-rated team at Sevens Legal has more than 40 years of DUI defense experience, and we are just a phone call away.

Schedule a Free DUI Consultation with Sevens Legal

A DUI arrest can feel like the end of the world, but you don’t have to face it alone. A good DUI defense attorney will fight for you and ensure that the outcome of your case is as much in your favor as possible. From the moment you are pulled over for a DUI in California, the police will be working to prove their case, and you should be doing the same. Call Sevens Legal today to schedule a free DUI defense consultation with our legal team.

How to Contact Our DUI Defense Attorneys

Without proper legal representation, a DUI arrest can throw your entire life off track. Contact Sevens Legal at (619) 430-2355 today if you have been pulled over for driving under the influence in California. Our knowledgeable DUI defense attorneys can help first, second, and subsequent offenders facing a wide variety of driving under the influence charges.