People often don't realize it, but unfortunately, they fall prey to the fact that law enforcement is out in force every night on the streets of Los Angeles and across California. This is especially true during the holidays and the weekends to catch those individuals drinking alcohol and driving their vehicles. Therefore, you should be aware that it typically occurs when you are busted for a DUI.

The police are not just randomly stopping vehicles. They are specially trained to identify signs of erratic driving, such as swerving and accidents.  As soon as they pull a vehicle over, they initiate a thorough investigation. They start by asking questions,  checking the driver's breath for alcohol, and if any alcohol is detected, they will ask the driver to step out of the car.

They're going to conduct field sobriety tests specifically designed to determine if somebody is under the influence of alcohol to the degree that they cannot safely operate a motor vehicle.

That's the standard.  They're looking to see if the person is safe.  Can they pass a specific test?  And the reality is, you do not have to be drunk to get a DUI.  You don't have to be falling.  You don't have to be double or triple the legal limit.

If your blood alcohol level is .08 or higher and the police, based on their observations, believe you're not passing the tests, you will be arrested for DUI. This arrest can have serious consequences, including the loss of your driver's license for a year.

DUI Blood or Breath Test

They're going to take your blood or take your breath, and if you don't cooperate, they'll give you a refusal, and then you'll lose your driver's license for a year with no restrictions.

Then they will take you to the station.  They're going to observe you.  That's one thing people don't realize when you're talking about a DUI investigation. What if the police's observations are some of the main things that the prosecutors rely on when they file a criminal case against a specific individual? The police will be watching how you drive.

They will look to see how you're acting when you exit your vehicle.  Are you staggering?  In other words, how are you walking?  Does your breath smell like alcohol?  Are your pupils dilated? That's why they're putting the flashlight in your eyes and making you watch a pencil or a finger, and they're making your eyes go back and forth to see if you have smooth pursuit, to see if your pupils are bouncing.

So, the investigation starts even before they pull over, but mainly during the pull-over. They'll ask you a series of questions to see if they can catch you off guard. This is another indication that somebody is intoxicated and can't safely operate a motor vehicle.

When considering an investigation, remember that it typically begins when the authorities arrive at the scene, either by pulling behind your vehicle or coming upon your car if it's stopped on the side of the road, or when you become involved in an accident.

DUI Involving Accident

That's another thing.  People are involved in an accident. Whether the accident is their fault, they don't realize that the California Highway Patrol is swooping up.  They're not looking to help you in the accident.

They're looking to see if they've got some DUI drivers.  You're going to notice that they're going to come right up on you and ask if you've had anything to drink.  They're going to smell your breath.  They're going to try to figure out how the accident occurred and whether or not you're at fault, whether or not you're using alcohol.

I can't tell you how many of my clients have been arrested, and the accidents they were involved in were not their fault.  The CHP or police department that's involved doesn't care about that.

They're looking to see if you're driving under the influence, and they'll arrest everybody involved in the accident if they determine they're driving under the influence of alcohol. So, when you're talking about an investigation related to a DUI, you're talking about the police trying to put together a case by looking at your driving, looking at how you perform on the field sobriety tests, and asking you questions.  That's another part of their investigation.

Police Will Ask a Series of Questions Related to DUI

They're going to be asking you how many drinks you had, what type of alcohol you were drinking, where you were, and how much you had to eat.  They're going to get your height. They're going to get your weight because they're setting things up for a future potential trial, and their expert to be able to use the data they're collecting to prove that you were driving under the influence of alcohol. You could not safely operate a motor vehicle.

That's why they're getting all that information. If they don't get that information when the DUI attorney cross-examines them, they'll mention that you don't even know how much that person had to eat.

You don't know when their last drink was.  You don't know what they were drinking.  You don't know how much they were drinking.  You don't know what their blood alcohol level was when they were driving. That's the most important thing because you have a blood alcohol level two hours or an hour later; that doesn't give you what the blood alcohol level was at the time of driving, and that's the crucial inquiry during the investigation.

During the investigation, the police will gather a lot of information, including your alcohol consumption, eating habits, and more. It's crucial to remember your right to remain silent. By not exercising this right, you could inadvertently provide evidence against yourself.