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LA DUI Defense Attorneys

Symptoms of Intoxication

Drunk drivers threaten the safety of every other motorist on the road, as well as themselves. As such, law enforcement officers take special care to identify and arrest anyone suspected of driving while intoxicated, though their desire to take drunk drivers off the road may cloud their perception concerning the actual condition of the driver. Before pulling a suspected drunk driver over, a police or CHP officer looks for erratic patterns of driving, and after a driver is pulled over, an officer would look for physical signs of intoxication.

Driving Signs of Intoxication

Bad driving is sometimes just bad driving, but if a law enforcement officer notices the following examples of poor driving, you may be pulled over and suspected of driving while under the influence of alcohol:

• Abruptly changing speed;
• Veering into other lanes;
• Braking suddenly and without cause;
• Taking an excessively wide turn;
• Following the car in front too closely;
• Driving in between lanes; and
• Cutting across multiple lanes.

Additional reckless actions, such as driving in the wrong direction, would also be a red flag and may result in you being pulled over.

Physical Symptoms of Intoxication

If you have been pulled over for reckless or unlawful driving, a law enforcement officer will pay careful attention to your behavior and physical appearance in order to confirm their suspicion of drunk driving. The following are some of the symptoms an officer looks for:

• Red, watery eyes;
• Ruddy or flushed face;
• Smell of alcohol on breath or around the person;
• Slurred speech;
• Incoherent speech;
• Poor balance (swaying, falling down);
• Disheveled appearance;
• Lack of control over voice volume;
• Slow physical and verbal responses; and
• Confusion.

An officer does not have to confirm all of these symptoms to arrest you for DUI. The trouble with this is that many of these symptoms can occur in completely sober situations. For example, a person who spent a sunny day at the beach could have red eyes, flushed face, and a disheveled appearance. Fatigue from a long day could even make a person drive poorly. Also, having one beer, even hours past, which may not cause an intoxicated level of impairment, could put the scent of alcohol on one’s breath. There are a wide range of circumstances that can make a person exhibit symptoms of intoxication without them actually being intoxicated.

DUI Defense in Southern California

At Takakjian & Sitkoff, our experienced Los Angeles DUI defense attorneys have a thorough knowledge of CA DUI arrest procedure and its shortcomings. We commend our law enforcement officers for their dedication but also understand that the pressure of keeping drunk drivers off the road can lead to false suspicion and mistakes during arrest/interrogation procedure.

If you have been arrested for DUI in Southern California after exhibiting alleged symptoms of intoxication, our lawyers can help you build the best possible defense in order to reduce or dismiss the charges. We will listen to your side as well as investigate the details of your arrest in order to determine the true cause of your symptoms. As former DUI prosecutors as well as advisors to local law enforcement officials in regards to the right procedures for drunk driving arrests and prosecution, our Los Angeles drunk driving defense lawyers have a thorough understanding of DUI law. Call us today at 888-579-4844 and we will be happy to answer all of your questions.

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