What You Need To Know If You Are Pulled Over By Police
You’ve been pulled over for speeding, a traffic violation or under suspicion of drunk driving. Now what? What you do immediately after a traffic stop can determine the course of your case.
In our experience, we have found that defense against OWI charges often comes down to the stop: Did the police violate any of your rights? Did they follow the correct procedures?
Here are some important things you should and should not do after a traffic stop or subsequent arrest.
Do:
- Pull over as soon as you can safely do so.
- Stay calm and comply with police requests for your license, insurance and registration.
- Provide any legitimate reasons for erratic driving behavior — for example, if you only swerved or stopped suddenly to avoid hitting a deer.
- Comply with police requests for breath tests.
- If you are arrested, request to speak with a lawyer right away.
Don’t:
- Argue with the police officer.
- Refuse a chemical test. Under Wisconsin’s implied consent law, you can face steeper penalties if you refuse to take a breath test.
- Give the police officer information about what you have been doing or how much you have or have not been drinking. Saying, “I only had one drink” is more likely to hurt you than help you.
- Give any kind of statement before speaking to a lawyer.
Don’t Wait To Call A Lawyer
The experienced criminal defense attorneys at Sparr, Belville & Brown, LLC, in Oshkosh are ready to represent you after an arrest or criminal change. Give us a call at 920-335-1413 or email us to schedule an appointment.
