Beer cans will get into your police report if viewed by police, warns Fairfax DUI lawyer

Beer cans are not your friend when in plain view of police who have stopped you after drinking alcohol. As a Fairfax DUI lawyer, I know that when police stop a motor vehicle, they are looking for plain view evidence of any criminal activity, whether that be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, possession of illegal drugs, or possession of other contraband. It never ceases to amaze me how often people will violate the open alcoholic beverage container lawyers while driving, to include unsealed bottles, plastic cups of alcohol, and empty bottles and cans that have been sitting around for weeks, On a lesser scale, many Virginia DWI suspects will give off clues of impairment with disheveled clothing, vomit on themselves or in their cars, and obvious urine wet spots on their pants. Granted that true impairment by alcohol can dim a person’s planning for any police stops (and a person’s driving prudently to avoid a stop in the first place.) Nonetheless, this article provides foresight for future roadside police encounters.

Is it worth it to drive within 24 hours of consuming beer, wine or alcohol?

Is it worth it to drive a car within twenty-four hours of drinking beer, wine or alcohol? Maybe 24 hours is overcovering risk, but would you want to do anything less? I say this not to be a mouthpiece of law enforcement, prosecutors, teetotalers, nor Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), but a a public service for you not to need a Fairfax DUI lawyer or Virginia criminal attorney in the first place. If you are still going to get behind the wheel after drinking, look for the presence of telltale signs for the police to target you and to detail their reports more fully. Make sure you have your headlights turned on when they have to be on. Fix your muffler when it needs fixing. Get your annual car inspection sticker on a timely basis. Do not wait until the last moment to renew your car registration.

Every piece of data you provide police investigating for possible Virginia DUI violations is another opportunity for the police to misconstrue that data and to build a stronger case against you.

Every time you open your mouth with police investigating you for a possible Virginia DUI arrest after drinking beer, wine or alcohol, is another opportunity for police to smell your breath and to assess whether you are slurring your speech, on top of being an opportunity to use your words against you. Haiku is the word of the day, where you will thank yourself for asserting your Fifth Amendment Constitutional right to to remain silent with police, and for declining pre-arrest field sobriety testing (FSTs / SFSTs). You cannot successfully talk yourself out of a Virginia DUI arrest. Do not even try.

What do I do if the police arrest me for violating the Virginia DUI law?

If you are unfortunate to get arrested for an alleged Virginia DUI offense after drinking beer, wine or alcohol, remain calm, do not physically resist arrest, and look forward to being released sooner rather than later. Do not sweat having your vehicle towed, being separated from your cellphone, and possibly not having your family have any idea where you are (in the event that police will not make such a call for you, or that your family does not answer so later at night). Do not wait more than a day or two after your release to interview one to three suitable potential Virginia DUI lawyers to pursue your best possible defense.

Fairfax DUI lawyer lawyer Jonathan Katz relentlessly pursues your best defense against Virginia DWI prosecutions alleging driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs under Virginia Code § 18.2-266.Call 703-383-1100 for your free in-person strictly confidential initial consultation with Jon about your court-pending prosecution.