You’re driving home from a night out with friends after having had a drink or two and notice up in the distance on your way home a field sobriety checkpoint. All of a sudden your heart begins to race, your face feels flushed, your palms become sweaty, you’re anxious, and starting to think maybe I should turn around and take the back roads home. Sounds like a good idea, right? Wrong. These are the exact things you should try to avoid doing in this type of situation. If that isn’t the best thing to do, then what is? Below you will find the five things you should remember to do the next time you are faced with a field sobriety checkpoint.

1. Keep calm.
When approaching a field sobriety checkpoint make sure to not panic, and drive cautiously until designated by an officer to pullover. Keep in mind that not every vehicle will be pulled over at a checkpoint, and if you are chosen to it does not mean that you are suspected of DUI. According to Federal Law, officers are not allowed to detain every vehicle that passes through a checkpoint. The officers conducting the checkpoint are required to use a mathematical formula to determine which vehicles to pullover (i.e. every X number of cars).

2. Don’t draw attention to yourself.
Do not attempt to avoid the checkpoint by performing a U-turn or turning away from it. This will cause suspicion and draw attention to your vehicle, and will likely lead to a “Chase car” pulling you over after you have done so. “Chase cars” are designated officers that look for vehicles that try to avoid a checkpoint.

3. Do what is asked.
If chosen to pull over, while waiting in the designated area try to have your license and registration ready for the officer, they will likely be asking you to provide these documents. Having these items ready will also help in making the process a much smoother and faster one.

4. Performing a field sobriety test.
Federal law requires that the time officers detain a vehicle be kept to a minimum. That being said you will only be asked to step outside of your vehicle and perform a field sobriety test if you exhibit obvious signs of intoxication such as:

• Glossy Eyes
• Slurred Speech
• Slow Motor Skills
• Erratic or Improper Driving
• Strong Odor of Alcohol
• Poor Coordination

5. Cooperate.
Although field sobriety test are optional, refusing to cooperate in a field sobriety test may cause suspicion and lead the officer to believe there is probable cause and allowing the officer to submit you for either a breath, blood, or urine test, all of which cannot be refused per Nevada Per Se law. If you find yourself being arrested for a DUI charge, it is important to contact a Las Vegas DUI attorney immediately following the arrest.

Remember, even if you do fail a field sobriety test and are arrested for a DUI it does not mean you will be convicted for it. There are a number of strategies and defenses that can be used to reduce your penalties or even have the charge dismissed. Be mindful that a DUI charge is a criminal charge and is not to be taken lightly. You will need the help of an experienced and knowledgeable Las Vegas DUI attorney to represent you in court.

Contact us today for a free consultation by calling (702) 529-0333 or submitting the contact request form in the upper right corner of this page.

After facing a DUI arrest, most people are anxious and not sure what to do next. Below is a list of recommended actions to take immediately after being arrested for a DUI in Las Vegas. A DUI charge can be tremendously nerve wrecking, but with the help of a trusted Las Vegas DUI lawyer the process can be much more bearable.

1. Make sure to contact friends or family that can vouch for your sobriety. It is best to contact someone as soon as the arrest occurred so they can testify on your behalf of your coherency and speech ability at the time of the arrest.

2. Make a detailed list of the food and alcohol consumed in the hours leading up to the arrest. Be sure to get copies of any receipts that show the purchase of the food or alcohol consumed to provide as documentation. Many times field sobriety, blood, breath, and urine test are done incorrectly by the arresting officers and lead to a false DUI arrest. With the information provided we are able to match the claimed blood alcohol content (BAC) with the consumption pattern to see if there are any discrepancies.

3. Consult with an experienced and knowledgeable Las Vegas DUI lawyer. Having a skilled and experienced Las Vegas DUI lawyer that understands the Nevada DUI laws greatly increases your chance of beating your DUI charge.

4. Let your Las Vegas DUI lawyer know of any health conditions that may have potentially negatively altered the results of your BAC. Some of the common conditions that effect BAC during an arrest are gastro-esophageal reflux disease, chronic acid reflux or heartburn, cavities, gingivitis, and dental pockets.

5. Be completely honest with your Las Vegas DUI attorney. Lying about the situation or leaving parts of your story out will not help your case. By law any details of your case that are discussed between you and your Las Vegas DUI attorney cannot be admitted as evidence against you in court.

6. Contact the DMV and request a DMV hearing to contest suspension of your license. Failure to request a DMV hearing within the allotted time frame may result in an automatic suspension of your driver license.

This list is a great start to reduce the negative consequences of a DUI charge, but is by no means a substitute for the counsel of an experienced Las Vegas DUI attorney. Contact us today for a free consultation by calling (702) 529-0333 or submitting the contact request form in the upper right corner of this page.