If you’re pulled over for DUI in Illinois, you know that your future hangs in the balance. Check out the three worst mistakes you can make in this situation.
The 3 Worst Mistakes You Can Make During a DUI Stop
The three biggest mistakes people make during DUI stops don’t have anything to do with reciting the alphabet wrong, walking in a not-so-straight line, or fumbling with their license and insurance information. Instead, these are the worst things you can do during a DUI stop:
- Try to explain yourself to a cop
- Straight-out lie to police
- Fail to call an attorney immediately
Here’s a closer look at each.
DUI Stop Mistake #1: Trying to Explain Yourself to a Cop
When the police pull you over because they think you’re driving drunk, it’s not your job to explain your situation. You shouldn’t say, “Well, I only had five drinks because my girlfriend broke up with me” or “It’s been two hours since I drank my last Long Island iced tea!”
In fact, you shouldn’t say much at all. Everything you say to the police during a DUI stop can (and will) be used against you in court when the state is trying to prove that you’re a drunk driver.
Related: First-offense DUI in Illinois
DUI Stop Mistake #2: Straight-Out Lying to Police
You might think that if you tell the police a little white lie, they’ll let you go. But lying to a police officer is a bad idea for several reasons.
For starters, it’s hard to keep your story straight when you’re nervous, and the police are trained to catch people in lies. If you trip up on your story, they’ll use that against you to prove that you’re intoxicated. And even if you don’t trip up, lying is still a crime. You can be charged with obstruction of justice, which is a felony, and you’ll definitely be arrested.
In the vast majority of situations – even those in which a person is innocent – it’s best to close your mouth and wait to talk to an attorney.
Related: Refusing a breath test in Illinois
DUI Stop Mistake #3: Failing to Call an Attorney Immediately
When you’re pulled over for DUI, the police are going to try to get you to incriminate yourself. They might ask you to take a breathalyzer test or perform field sobriety tests. If you refuse, they might threaten you with jail and tell you that your license will be suspended (and Illinois, that’s definitely true – you’ll lose your driving privileges for a year).
But no matter what happens, you may have the best shot at a favorable outcome if you call an attorney immediately. You have the right to legal counsel. Experienced DUI defense lawyers know the law, and they can protect your rights. If you try to navigate the system on your own, you may be in for a rough ride.
Related: Can you – and should you – plead not guilty to DUI?
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