Drunk Driving Lawyer Maryland
As a Drunk Driving Lawyer in Maryland at The Law Office of Frederick J. Brynn, P.C. may tell you, there are several things that an officer looks for when deciding whether to pull someone over for a potential DWI (driving while intoxicated). An officer must have had an observable reason to stop a driver, as it is unlawful to halt someone due a “hunch” or “gut feeling”.
It is recommended that those who have been arrested for a DWI meet with a Drunk Driving Lawyer in MD for advice. With assistance from our team and depending on the circumstances of the DWI stop, it may be possible to get the charges dropped or greatly decreased.
What does the officer watch out for when the vehicle is in motion?
As stated above, the police must have a legitimate reason to stop a vehicle. As a DWI attorney in MD is well aware, an officer who is suspicious that a person may be driving while intoxicated (DWI) may claim to have seen them exhibiting one or more of the following behaviors:
- Turning with a very wide radius
- Wavering along the center lane
- Almost hitting an object, building, or other vehicle
- Swerving erratically
- Following too closely behind another vehicle
- Drifting slowly across lanes
- Braking suddenly and without reason
- Slow response to changing traffic signals
- Accelerating or decelerating rapidly
- Driving with no headlights on
What if the officer was following behind me for a while?
An officer may have followed you for many miles before finally pulling you over. It is possible that the officer tailed you until they saw a traffic violation, to give them a reason to pull you over. An officer may do this to cover their own tracks if they have a feeling a driver is driving while intoxicated but didn’t see any observable signs to support this hunch. A MD Drunk Driving Lawyer is familiar with criminal defense cases and can investigate further to figure out whether the officer had used this sneaky tactic to pull you over in the first place.
What is the officer looking for after having already pulled me over?
After stopping you, an officer may attempt to gather evidence in support of their suspicions by looking inside the car while standing outside the window and asking questions. During this face-to-face conversation, the officer may be keeping an eye out for these signs:
- Bloodshot eyes
- Twitchy or fumbling fingers
- Containers of alcohol
- Soiled clothing
- Bruises, bumps, or scratches
- Odd behavior
- Slurred speech
- Inconsistent responses
- Smell of marijuana
- Cover ups like breath sprays or strong cologne
What if I feel like the officer is trying to trick me?
During your consultation, a Lawyer for Drunk Driving in Maryland is likely to ask several questions about exactly how your arrest occurred, to see if the officer may have had dishonest intentions. In an attempt to make an arrest, some officers may overthink certain behaviors or statements made by the driver.
For example, the officer may ask the driver to give them their license and registration. Being nervous, the driver may forget to provide their registration after the first ask. The officer may interpret this as a sign that the driver is driving while intoxicated, when it was actually just nerves that caused the forgetfulness. Or, the officer may believe that the bloodshot eyes mean there is alcohol in the driver’s system, when perhaps they received bad news on a personal level or were exhausted from a long day at work.
If you would like a free consultation with a Maryland Lawyer for Drunk Driving, then contact The Law Firm of Frederick J. Brynn, P.C. right away for legal guidance.