People often think that police officers can pull them over for no reason, but that’s not the case. Police officers need to have at least reasonable suspicion to initiate a traffic stop for suspected impaired driving. This means that they need to see something that a reasonable person would believe indicates a driver is intoxicated before they can lawfully pull over a driver due to their suspicions.
Understanding what constitutes reasonable suspicion and knowing what to expect during a suspected impaired driving stop may be beneficial, in case you ever experience one.
What are some examples of reasonable suspicion?
There are many things that can signal impairment that an officer can look for while they’re on patrol. These include things like swerving between lanes or straddling the center line because those are common behaviors of a driver who’s impaired. Driving too fast or slow, failing to stop at stop signs and failing to maintain control of one’s vehicle can also lead to a traffic stop.
What happens if the officer has reasonable suspicion for a traffic stop?
If an officer conducts a traffic stop because there’s reasonable suspicion of impaired driving, they will make contact with the driver to figure out what’s going on. They may pay attention to whether the drive is slurring or has alcohol on their breath. They may also look in the vehicle to see if there are any open containers of alcohol.
In some cases, a driver may be asked to take a breath test or a field sobriety test. These are used to determine if there’s probable cause for an arrest. The standard of probable cause is higher than that of reasonable suspicion because the officer has to have evidence that suggests that the driver most likely drove while impaired.
If you’re arrested and charged with drunk driving, you should learn about your options for answering the charges. It’s best to do this quickly after an arrest, as even a single misstep can lead to an unfavorable outcome.