Drunk Driving in California
7 Tips to Avoid a DUI:
1. Don’t Drink and DriveThis is the easiest and safest way to avoid a DUI. Wait at least 12 hours after your last drink before driving. Consider taking a cab, having a sober friend drive, walking or staying at a hotel.
2. Vehicle SafetyKeep your car in good shape. Make sure your headlight, tail, brake and signal lights are all working properly, and that you have both rear and front license plates installed. Make sure that you use your headlights at night. Keep your license, registration and insurance current. Do not drive without these documents in your possession. You should keep your license, registration and proof of insurance in an easily accessible place in your car, such as your glove box.
3. Obey Traffic LawsDrive at a reasonable speed (at or below the maximum limit). Don't weave or lane-straddle. Use your turn signals and come to a complete stop at stop signs and red lights. If you have a flashy car, make sure the after market additions are legal. Do not throw cigarettes or trash out of the car window and don't blast loud music from your car. If you are the designated driver, make sure any drunken passengers are well enough to ride in a vehicle. If you don’t draw attention to yourself you will not be pulled over.
4. Voluntary TestsDo not take any voluntary balance or coordination tests. Do not let the officer check your eyes (Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus). The officer is not an Ophthalmologist or Optometrist.
5. PAS Breath TestIf you are 21 or older, do not take a PAS (preliminary alcohol screening) breath test. Inform the officer that the portable test is not as accurate as the real "implied consent" tests, and that you know you are not required to take it.
6. Urine Test vs Other TestsIf arrested and accused of a DUI make your first choice to take a Urine test. If the officer won't give you that option, take a breath test. Ask the officer to give you a test where a sample is saved. Let the officer know that you want to be tested by the least invasive and painless procedure, with the least chance of being infected with AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) or Hepatitis C.
7. DUI Defense AttorneyIf arrested, immediately hire an attorney with the following qualifications: Specialist member of California DUI Attorneys Association; Member of the National College for DUI Defense; and trained and certified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the International Association for Chiefs of Police (IACP). This will insure that your lawyer is highly skilled in DUI defense.
