What Police Look For in a Georgia DUI Stop

There are several things that Georgia police often look for in people they suspect of drinking and driving. The first, obviously, is an erratic driving behavior, including swerving outside the road lines and overcorrecting. Other common driving patterns that signal to police that something is wrong include making wide turns, riding over the center line in a street, almost hitting another vehicle or object, driving unusually slowly, drifting, braking too often, delayed responses to traffic lights, turning suddenly, and driving without using headlights.

Many of these patterns also break the law and are a reason that police can initiate a traffic stop. If a driver did not do any of these driving patterns and did not break the law an officer cannot stop them even if he/she suspects drinking and driving. The stopping officer must say why they are stopping your vehicle and what appears to be the violation. Police look for signals when they approach your car, including excessive nervousness or fumbling for paperwork. These motions and actions can either further or allay their suspicions about the driver.

Police in Georgia are also often taught to look for certain physical characteristics of the driver they stopped and suspect of a DUI. These symptoms include a flushed face or red appearance, watery and red eyes, the smell of alcohol in the car, speech impediment, inability to understand what the officer is saying, unsteady gait or movements, swaying while standing, using the vehicle to support yourself when you are outside, and being unable to comprehend the instructions for a field sobriety test.

If the police suspect that you have been drinking and driving they will perform a three part test known as the field sobriety test. These tests are notoriously unreliable and they are often performed not to the letter of the law, however. The three parts to the test are: the horizontal gaze nystagmus test (following an object with your eyes), the one leg stand, and the walk and turn test. If the driver is unable to understand the test's instructions or has problems with any or all of the tests they will likely be taken to the police station under suspicion of drunk driving.

The police may also perform several scientific tests in order to measure the level of blood alcohol in your system. These tests may involve taking a breath test with either a hand-held machine, one at the station, or at a medical facility. Another common test is a blood test, which should be done under medical supervision only and can be performed at the Georgia medical facility of the driver's choice. The police will look for any evidence of alcohol in the blood. If you are over 21 and are not driving commercially the limit is 0.08%, or a little under two drinks for most people. If you are under 21 or have other factors involved, your blood alcohol levels may be different.

Whatever the police do or look for in a Georgia drunk driving case you should always know that you have rights. The Law Firm of Conaway & Strickler, P.C has years of Georgia DUI experience and can help anyone facing a DUI charge from our Atlanta office. Contact us immediately for a free and confidential consultation to learn about your rights.