What Is The Best Way To Avoid A DUI?

Don’t Drink and Drive!

The best way to avoid being stopped by the police is to not drink and drive in the first place. Use a designated driver, call a cab. These are the easiest ways to avoid being stopped by the police.

If you are going to drink and drive, then there are preventative steps you can take to avoid being pulled over by the police. Many of these steps will help you avoid making the driving mistakes that might lead a police officer to suspect that you are impaired and decide to pull you over.

Know how much you have had to drink

BLOOD ALCOHOL CHART

Note: 1 Drink = 1 once of 80 proof liquor, which is equal to: 1 once of vodka, rum, tequila, etc., a 12 once beer or 3 oz wine.  Yellow boxes indicate where a person is at or over .08 legal limit. Red boxes indicate where a person is at or over .15 the BAC level that results in enhanced penalties.

When you are out drinking, remember that most drinks do not have just 1 oz of liquor in them. The amount of alcohol in a drink depends heavily on the bartender. Mixed drinks typically have more than 1 oz of alcohol in them. A martini for example typically has 2 ½ to 3 ounces of alcohol in them. It is important to know what your are drinking.

About this chart: It was developed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This chart is only to be used as a guide. It is not accurate enough to be considered legal evidence. The figures in the chart above are averages. There was no consideration to whether or not an individual has eaten or not eaten. There is no consideration as to whether or not a person is fatigued, on medications, suffering from a physical or emotional condition that may cause actual blood alcohol levels to be higher. Do not rely on this chart to determine whether or not you can legally drive. 

Know The Vehicle You Are Driving 

Let us assume you are about to drive a car. If you are at all uncomfortable or unfamiliar with the car you are driving, you are much more likely to make mistakes or drive erratically. And if you are not driving well, you are more likely to get stopped by a police officer. 

If you are driving a car you are not used to—a friend’s car, a car you just bought, or a car you have not driven in awhile—it is important that you take a moment to remind yourself where everything is before you start to drive: emergency brake, transmission, turning signals, windshield wipers, headlights, high beams, hazard lights and so on. To get an overall feel for the car, just grip the steering wheel and put your foot on the brake. Also make sure that the seat and steering wheel are adjusted properly for you.

Taking a few seconds to do this is especially important if you are used to driving a car with a different kind of transmission. If, say, you are driving an automatic when you are accustomed to a manual, spending a minute or two to familiarize yourself with the car can make the difference between getting where you are going safely and slamming on the brake in a frantic search for a non-existent clutch.

Also make sure everything on the outside of your vehicle is in working order and that your vehicle registration tags are current. Police officers often use a minor vehicle infraction like broken taillights or expired registration tags as a reason to stop a vehicle. Things like broken taillights are especially likely to get you pulled over at night when they can be easily seen. 

Know Where You are Going

Before you start driving, know where you are going, how to get there, and how to get back home. Getting lost and trying to find the right road will inevitably lead to errors in your driving.

Know Where Not To Go—Avoid Sobriety Checkpoints  

Keep alert to sobriety checkpoints, especially during holiday periods. While the police are legally required to notify the public of where and when the checkpoints will be, you may not have gotten the information in time.  Before you go out, check the newspapers or websites of your local area.

Be Polite 

If the unfortunate occurs, and you are stopped, be polite to the police officer. Do not argue with them. Do not use profanity or make comments that could piss them off. The last thing you want to do is say something that makes the encounter a personal issue between you and the police officer because you will lose..

Know your Rights 

If the unfortunate occurs, and you are stopped, know your rights and what to expect when you are pulled over. If you have been stopped, the police officer already believes there was probable cause to stop you and investigate you further. It is important to know your rights when stopped.