Driving Evidence
According to the NHTSA law enforcement training manual teaching law enforcement how to conduct proper dui investigations and gather evidence in any driving under the influence of alcohol case, officers are taught to look for certain 'driving behaviors' after dark that have been tied, by statistics from a California study of 1000 actual drivers, to possible alcohol-impairment.
Night time clues for 'driving behaviors' for influence of alcohol include the following:
- wide turning.
- straddling the center or lane marker.
- appearing to be drunk.
- striking or almost striking another vehicle or object.
- weaving within a lane.
- driving on shoulder or other than designated highway or roadway.
- swerving or turning abruptly.
- driving 10 mph or more slowly than the posted speed limit.
- stopping in a lane of traffic without proper reason.
- Following another vehicle too closely.
- Drifting within a lane of travel or across marked line.
- Tires consistently on center or lane marker on highway or street.
- Erratic braking or braking in a jerky manner.
- Driving into opposing or crossing traffic.
- Slow response to changes in traffic signals.
- Signaling not consistent with driving actions.
- Stopping Inappropriately other than in a lane of traffic.
- Turning abruptly, illegal u-turn or other illegal turn.
- Rapid acceleration or decelerating rapidly.
- Driving with headlights off, during period when use of headlights is required.
Source: DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, Student/Law Enforcement Participant Manual, US Department of Transportation (1995). A competent driving under the influence lawyer will always look for a challenge to the lawfulness of an officer's decision to stop your vehicle. If there was no reasonable suspicion or probable cause for stop without a warrant, the case may be dismissed or driving evidence challenged by your lawyer.
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