It is undeniable that from the moment a person has even one alcoholic drink, their ability to drive has become impaired, no matter how slightly. As a person consumes one alcoholic beverage after another, they will only become more and more incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle. As you may know, there are certain driving behaviors that law enforcement will be looking for when trying to spot those driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Continue reading to learn more about the most common signs of a drunk driver, what law enforcement is looking out for, and how a seasoned Allegheny County DUI lawyer from our firm can help if you’ve been accused of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
What are some of the most common signs of a drunk driver?
When someone operates a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, there are certain behaviors that may give them away. Just some of the behaviors most commonly associated with drunk driving are as follows:
- Speeding or tailgating other vehicles
- Driving extremely slow (more than 10 mph under the speed limit)
- Swerving
- Straddling the center lane marker
- Driving with headlights off
- Driving on the wrong side of the road
- Slow reaction time to traffic lights
- Quickly accelerating
Though these do tend to be the most common signs of drunk driving, you should also note that just because a driver does any of the aforementioned, it doesn’t mean he or she is actually impaired. To determine as much, law enforcement must have probable cause to pull the driver over, and they will then have to conduct certain tests to determine whether the individual is intoxicated before they can make an arrest.
What are some of the best defenses against drunk driving charges?
If law enforcement suspects a person is under the influence of drugs or alcohol while operating a motor vehicle and arrests them, the most important thing the individual can do is retain the services of a seasoned Pittsburgh DUI lawyer who can help assess the circumstances of their charges and their arrest and determine whether they may have a viable defense.
For example, though driving on the wrong side of the road is certainly probable cause for law enforcement to stop a motorist, certain behaviors may not be. For example, if you’re traveling under the speed limit (not significantly) but you’re in the right lane, as long as you’re not doing anything else illegal, it shouldn’t warrant law enforcement pulling you over.
Additionally, if you believe law enforcement lied about you exhibiting “x” behavior (e.g. they said you were swerving but you weren’t), our team can attempt to subpoena footage of the stop and moments leading up to it in an effort to disprove their claim.
