Can I be charged with a DUI if I exit the vehicle, enter a store and then fail a breathalizer upon walking out the store?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Can I be charged with a DUI if I exit the vehicle, enter a store and then fail a breathalizer upon walking out the store?
My friend and I were going into a restaurant and there were 2 police cars right in front of the entrance. As I walk into the restaurant, I turned around and noticed that the cops were cuffing my friend. I started walking towards the glass door to see what the matter was and I was put in cuffs as well and given field sobriety and breathalizer tests which I failed (.09). The cop said he saw me get out of the driver’s side of the car. I wasn’t doing anything suspicious or stumbling, so wouldn’t he need some sort of probable cause to apprehend me like he did? Also wouldn’t he have to prove I was in the driver’s seat?
Asked on May 31, 2012 under Criminal Law, Mississippi
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
You can be arrested for a DUI even if you are not driving at the time. The fact is, the police do not have to actually observe you behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. Under the law all that is needed is evidence of driving. And the officer indicated that they saw you get out of the driver's side of the car. This would have been legally sufficient to demonstrate that you exerted control over the car. Additionally, the tests administered to you at the scene (breathalyzer and field sobriety) legally established that you not only exerted control over your car but did so at a time when you were intoxicated. Why you were stopped in the first place is not clear but obviously the officer had reasonable suspicions for doing so; you may have smelled of alcohol, were acting in an inebriated manner, etc. Bottom line, you were over the limit.
That having been said, this doesn't mean that you don't have legal grounds on which to fight the charge. Defenses can be enlisted which could result in getting the charge reduced or dismissed. You realy should consult with a DUI attorney in the area where you must make your court appearance. They will have contacts within the local court that may be able utilized to your advantage. Since a DUI triggers both civil and criminal cases, retaining legal representation is highly advised.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.