Testing, Probable Cause, and Arrest

When an officer pulls a person over for whatever reason and then believes that the person may be intoxicated they may administer field sobriety tests to investigate further. It is important to understand that a person does no need to submit to this testing. However, if you refuse to do the testing then the officer may arrest you for the refusal, but down the road that may be the best decision because without the test results the prosecution is going to have a much more difficult job charging and prosecuting you. Unfortunately, most people don’t know that they can refuse to take the tests or they don’t want to get arrested so they submit to the testing. The most common tests and those approved by the National Highway Traffic and Safety administration are the walk and turn test, the one-legged stand test and the HGN test.

Provo DUI Attorney | Getting Legal Help in Utah

If you are facing DUI charges in Provo or Utah County and are looking for legal help then call the attorneys at Provo DUI Defense. We can help you protect your rights and get the best outcome available. Call or email us today to set up an appointment.

Almost all of us have had the expereince, we’re driving down the road and all of a sudden our anxiety level rises as we see the lights flashing in our rearview mirror. The knee jerk reaction for most people is to feel guilty. We may not know what we are guilty of but we just feel like we are. This feeling leads a lot of people to feel like they should admit to whatever the officers says because as long as they admit to it the police officer will go easy on them. Well these are all misconceptions about the law and law enforcement that need to be cleared up.

The Stop

The first thing to realize is that being stopped by the police does not mean you have done something wrong. Based on the law it should at least mean that the police officer has reasonable suspicion that there has been a violation, but unfortunately that is not always true. During a traffic stop an officer is limited to what he is allowed to do (obtain your license and  registration, investigate the reason for the stop), and it is important that you don’t consent to more than that.  As a citizen you are under no obligation to help the officer in his investigation, and in fact the constitution allows you the right to not incriminate yourself. Obviously, we are not advocating that you lie to the officer or keep him from doing his job, but it is important that you don’t admit to anything whether you think you are guilty or not. In most cases the individual does not understand the ins and outs of the law and does not understand whether or not they are truly guilty and admitting to something can lead to legal consequences later.

Submitting to DUI Testing

One of the areas that people help incriminate themselves is through sobriety tests. In Utah a person can refuse DUI testing, but doing so allows the police officer to arrest you. The benefit of resisting the test, however, is that without testing a DUI charge becomes difficult to prove. If you have already been charged with a DUI then you should call us today to get help with your case. 801.900.3371

Last year the Obama administration set a record for the number of criminal immigrants that were forced to leave the country. Of those deported a large number of them were sent home after drunk driving charges, in fact over 27,500 immigrants were forced to leave after a DUI charge. This number has more than doubled since the last year of the Bush administration which saw just under 11,000 immigrants deported following a DUI offense. Although Obama has stated that his immigration policies will focus on getting rid of the worst of the worst criminal immigrants the fact that so many are being sent home after DUIs and other traffic offenses tends to suggest differently.

Other Consequences of a DUI

The penalties of a DUI are usually measured by jail and court fines but there are other consequences of a DUI conviction that are often not mentioned and can sometimes be much more damaging. The deportation example above is one of those consequences but others could be a damaged reputation, loss of employment, or loss of government assistance. These sometimes unforeseen consequences are not administered directly by the judicial system but are however linked to a conviction. This is one reason why a conviction should be so aggressively fought, and the best way to do this is with the help of an attorney.

DUI Attorney in Provo

If you are facing DUI charges in Provo then you are facing more than just possible court imposed penalties and you need an attorney to help you defend yourself. The attorneys at Provo DUI Defense are experienced criminal defenders who are familiar with defending client’s DUI charges. We understand what is at a stake for you and your loved ones and will work tirelessly for your rights and liberties. Call us today to set up a free consultation. 801.900.3371