Prince William County DUI

What To Do If You’ve Been Pulled Over for Drunk Driving

Your actions immediately following a traffic stop for a suspected DUI can greatly affect the prosecution’s case against you. It’s critical that you follow the suggestions listed below to increase your chances of having a better defense against your DUI charges. Offenders who argue with law enforcement or act belligerently can hurt their case before it’s even begun.

• Safely pull over: When you’re being pulled over, law enforcement already suspects you of driving under the influence or violating a traffic law. Once you see the police lights behind you, put your turning signal on and pull over to a safe location as soon as possible. 
• Stay calm: Keep your hands on the steering wheel and refrain from making any sudden movements. Wait until you receive instructions from the officer before you do anything. 
• Be courteous and polite: Avoid being confrontational or uncooperative with law enforcement. Acting this way could result in additional criminal charges of unfavorable treatment when it comes time to go to court. Being polite and courteous can help you earn some good will early on in the process.
• Field Sobriety Tests:: In Virginia, FIeld Sobriety Tests are considered voluntary. That means that you have no legal obligation to perform them. Poor performance on these tests will likely lead to a DUI arrest.
• Preliminary Breath Test (PBT): Under Virginia DUI law, police officers are legally required to offer you a PBT, but you are not legally required to take it,
• If you’re arrested, take the chemical test: Once arrested, Virginia DUI law requires you to take a breath or blood test at the police station or hospital. Per the Implied Consent Law mentioned above, you could face additional charges if you refuse the chemical test following an arrest. 
• Pay attention: If possible, take notes of everything that happened, starting from when you were pulled over and throughout the arrest. These notes could help your DUI defense attorneys down the road. 
• Contact the Manassas Law Group: Following your arrest, it’s crucial that you contact an experienced Prince William County DUI lawyer. The DUI attorneys at the Manassas Law Group will evaluate your case to create the strongest defense strategy that will produce the most favorable results.  
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Why You Need a Prince William DUI Lawyer

A DUI arrest in Prince William County is a serious criminal charge. If convicted, you risk paying hefty fines, serving jail time, and having your driver’s license suspended. In addition to fines, jail time, and a license suspension, there are other consequences of having a DUI conviction on your criminal record. For instance, individuals who have a DUI conviction on their record could have difficulty finding a job, buying a home, and being approved for a loan, among other things. 

As soon as you’re able, it’s critical that you obtain experienced legal representation for your DUI charges. When you contact a Prince William County DUI lawyer from the Manassas Law Group, you can trust that you’re receiving the highest level of legal representation in Northern Virginia. Our law firm has represented countless clients against DUI charges and other criminal offenses with a proven track record of success. We understand the serious impact a DUI charge can have on your life and will work diligently to have your DUI charge, reduced, amended, or dismissed.

Potential DUI Defenses

Your Prince William County DUI lawyer from the Manassas Law Group will evaluate your case in order to determine the best defense strategy against your DUI charges. Our DUI lawyers have used some of the following defenses when helping clients avoid DUI convictions: 

• Lack of probable cause: The officer must have probable cause to support the arrest before arresting you for a DUI. If the police officer observes slurred words or smells alcohol on your breath, this provides them with probable cause. However, without observing these actions, the officer does not have probable cause to justify the arrest. Any evidence collected following the DUI arrest is insufficient to justify the arrest without probable cause. 
• Unreasonable traffic stop: In addition to probable cause, the police officer must have reason to have pulled you over in the first place. If they witnessed you swerving or speeding, they have reasonable suspicion to pull you over. However, the evidence they collected could be dismissed if no actions warranted a traffic stop. 
• Unreliable field sobriety test: To properly conduct a field sobriety test, police must follow specific guidelines while administering the test. If your DUI attorney can find evidence that your field sobriety test was improperly conducted, they could move to have the results dismissed.
• Inaccurate breath or blood test: Blood tests and breathalyzers are not always accurate and leave room for errors. For example, your arresting officer may not have conducted the test correctly, or the breathalyzer could have been miscalibrated. 
• Your rights were violated: Following an arrest, your constitutional rights should always be obeyed. For example, if you were unlawfully searched or were not read your Miranda Rights, your DUI lawyer could move to have your charges dismissed.