If you are stopped for drunk driving, the way you conduct yourself will play a significant role in whether or not you are arrested – and even convicted. Upon contact with law enforcement, it is important to understand that you are only required to provide three pieces of information: your driver’s license, proof of insurance, and vehicle registration. You are not obligated to answer any further questions from the officer, no matter what they tell you. At this point, they are attempting to establish probable cause to arrest you for drunk driving. Be sure to politely tell the officer that you decline to answer any further questions and that you wish to speak with your lawyer before providing any additional information.
The officer may also ask you to complete a series of field sobriety tests, which you also have the right to refuse – and you should. These tests make it easy for law enforcement to provide evidence against you, and they are often exaggerated to suggest that you are impaired, whether or not you are.
You may also be asked to submit a preliminary alcohol screening, which you also do not have to do. However, refusal of a breath test may result in an automatic driver’s license suspension, as well as the requirement to have an ignition interlock device installed on your vehicle for one year.