Police officers aren’t allowed to conduct traffic stops without a valid reason. Traffic stops require the officer to have a minimum standard of reasonable suspicion to pull someone over. This isn’t a very high standard. Instead, it simply means that the officer sees something that would lead a reasonable person to believe that a law is being broken, has been broken or will be broken.
In the case of a person who is suspected of drunk driving, there are several signs that the police officer will look for. Some of the more common include driving recklessly, swerving between lanes or failing to obey traffic signals. If the officer sees those or anything similar, they may initiate a traffic stop to determine what’s going on.
What happens once the traffic stop is initiated?
Once the traffic stop is initiated, the officer will make contact with the driver to check for signs of impairment or determine if something else is going on. This may be done through an interview, but there can also be other things that happen.
Officers rely on tools they can use in the field, including a preliminary alcohol screening device test or a field sobriety test. These may provide the officer with probable cause to conduct an arrest.
Any driver who’s arrested for drunk driving is facing serious charges, so they should learn their options for a defense strategy. It may be beneficial for them to work with someone familiar with these matters so they can make an informed decision about how to proceed.