A DUI task force is a coalition of legal authorities in a particular region that performs DUI roadblocks and checkpoints to keep the city streets safe from impaired drivers. While these traffic stops can be cumbersome and time consuming, they have proven helpful in reducing the number of deaths and accidents caused by impaired drivers. DUI checkpoints however are different from traffic stops that occur when pulled over on the highway, mainly because police do not need “probable cause” to stop your vehicle. Gilbert DUI attorney Charlie Naegle strongly encourages drivers to know their rights, be prepared, and seek Naegle & Crider Criminal Defense Attorneys’s legal expertise when stopped by a DUI task force in Phoenix.
Your Rights and Responsibilities When Stopped by a DUI Task Force
- You are required to provide your driver’s license and registration, as well as other identification or documentation the officer requests.
- You are required to comply if an officer asks you to step out of the car.
- You have the right to refuse consent to a search of your vehicle or possessions. If the officer has probable cause (such as the scent of alcohol on your breath or visible signs of impairment), he or she may search without your consent or a warrant.
- You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions until you have spoken with your attorney. Do not risk giving the officer probable cause for suspicion.
- You have the right to refuse submission to a Field Sobriety Test (FST). While this does not ensure that you will not be arrested, it gives the officer less evidence against you should you contest an arrest in court.
- You have the right to refuse submission to a breath test, but you will face legal consequences in the state of Arizona of a year’s suspension of your driver’s license.
Work with an experienced Gilbert DUI Attorney
If you have been arrested for or accused of a 1st time DUI or related offense, Gilbert DUI attorney Charlie Naegle is prepared to defend you in court and reduce your penalties to the bare minimum. Naegle has been serving the Mesa and Gilbert community for years, helping people to get their lives back on track. To set up your initial consultation, contact Naegle & Crider Criminal Defense Attorneys today by calling (480) 418-0776.