The Initial Police Stop - Atlanta DUI Charges

Atlanta Drunk Driving Defense Attorney

The initial police stop is the first part of any Atlanta DUI case. A law enforcement officer will generally pull a driver over upon personal observation or a report of erratic driving or a violation of a traffic law that indicates probable drunk driving. What many drivers do not know is that an officer must have probable cause to pull a driver over. This means that the officer must have more than just a sneaking suspicion that the driver is driving under the influence. The driver must have done more than simply leave a bar at closing time. The driver must have been swerving out of his or her lane, speeding, driving recklessly or otherwise driving in violation of traffic laws.

Conducting a complete investigation into the factors that led to your initial police stop is an important part of the legal counsel an Atlanta DUI lawyer will provide. Evidence of an unlawful DUI stop may actually be used to challenge the validity of your charges as a whole and may lead to the dismissal of key evidence against you.

The Process of a DUI Stop in Atlanta

A police stop for drunk driving in Atlanta may proceed as follows (although this may vary depending on the specific situation):

• The officer observes behavior that may indicate drunk driving
• The officer pulls the driver over and asks for license and registration, taking note of any additional indicators of intoxication or drug use, such as bloodshot eyes or slurred speech
• Depending on his or her observations, the officer may ask the driver to step out of the vehicle and perform field sobriety tests
• Depending on field sobriety test performance and any statements the driver may make about how much he/she has had to drink, etc. the officer may make an arrest for DUI

Find out more about how an attorney can help you challenge your charges and the circumstances surrounding your initial police stop. Contact Atlanta drunk driving defense attorney Judy Kim today.