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November 23, 2015

How to Avoid Getting a DUI

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We all know that it is against the law, and dangerous, to drive while intoxicated. It doesn’t take many drinks to reach the legal alcohol limit, which is why it is important to drink in moderation and to avoid driving if you have had more than a couple of drinks. However, sometimes individuals believe that they are under the legal limit when driving, even if they aren’t. In order to reduce your risk of being pulled over for driving while intoxicated, or to avoid getting convicted with a DUI, there are several things you can do.

Plan Ahead

When planning a night of drinking or partying with friends, the best thing to do is to plan ahead for a sober way to get home. This could include agreeing on a trusted designated sober driver, calling a cab, or having a friend or family member on hand who you can call for a ride at the end of the night. If these options are not available, ask if you can stay at a nearby friend’s house, or even book a hotel. The bottom line is to avoid driving after an excess of drinking alcohol.

Don’t Forget to Eat

One way to avoid becoming too intoxicated is to be sure to eat plenty of food and alternate drinking alcohol with drinking water or another non-alcoholic beverage. Eating helps to slow the absorption of alcohol into your system and reduces its effects. Alternating with non-alcoholic drinks helps you to slow down your alcohol intake and reduce the overall amount of alcohol that you ingest. Remember that the healthy legal limit of alcohol per day is about one drink for women and two drinks for men.

Be On Your Best Behavior

If you do end up driving after having a couple of drinks and are pulled over by a police officer, make sure to behave politely. Keep your license, registration, and insurance information in an easy-to-reach place and answer the officer’s questions calmly and politely. Remember that you are under no obligation to tell the officer where you have been, if you had any drinks, or submit to a field sobriety test. A field sobriety test can include things like walking in a straight line or counting backwards. Even sober people can fail these tests. However, it is important to note that if you do refuse to take these tests, the police officer might become more suspicious. Also, if you are arrested for a DUI you must submit to a chemical sobriety test to avoid serious penalties for refusing.

Call a DUI Attorney

If you are arrested with a DUI charge, immediately ask to call a DUI attorney. Assert your legal right to an attorney before any sobriety tests are done in order to get the best legal advice on your options. Working with an experienced DUI attorney will increase your chances of a good outcome after a DUI charge and help you avoid the serious penalties that come with getting a DUI. Call the office of Daniel C. Miller at (816) 875-0470 today to learn how we can help.