Signs of Drunk Driving

There are several indicators police look for when determining whether or not to pull someone over on suspicion of drunk driving. These suspicious driving patterns include:

• Straddling two lanes
• Driving extremely slowly
• Making abnormally large turns
• Braking erratically
• Constantly speeding up or slowing down
• Not being able to drive in a straight line
• Running a red light or rolling through a stop sign
• Drifting
• Almost hitting another car or almost striking a stationary object

Once an officer has noticed at least one or two of these driving patterns, there is reasonable cause to believe the driver could be intoxicated, and therefore the officer has the right to pull the driver over to further investigate the situation. As the officer approaches the driver, there are several more signs the officer will look for to determine if the driver is intoxicated. These are physical signs, and include:

• The smell of alcohol on the breath
• Flushed cheeks
• Glassy or bloodshot eyes
• Slurred speech
• Inability to walk straight
• Difficultly following instructions or answering questions
• Disheveled appearance

If the officer notices any of these signs, there is a good chance he'll arrest the driver for DUI right then and there. He may ask the driver to submit to a field sobriety test or breath or blood test, but at that point the officer has usually made his or her decision to arrest the driver.

At the Knowles Law Firm, we are here to help if you've been arrested for DUI, Extreme DUI, or Super Extreme DUI in the Phoenix area. We know how unsettling a DUI arrest can be, and that you're probably scared about what the future holds for you. Should you work with a Phoenix DUI attorney at our office, you can trust the necessary steps will be taken to ensure your case is aggressively defended from all angles. Our goal is to help you preserve your driving privileges and avoid the penalties associated with your offense.

For more information about our DUI defense services, please call (888) 332-5621 today to schedule an appointment with an attorney at our firm!