What Should I Do If I’m Stopped for DUI in San Diego?
At some point, you might be stopped by police because you violated a traffic law. The officer may think you’ve been drinking and if they do, you can say things to an officer that could get them in serious trouble or even wrongfully arrested. When you get stopped by a law enforcement officer, your actions will have a huge bearing on the outcome of your case.
Stop When You See the Blue Lights
No one wants to be stopped by police, but if you see the blue lights in your rearview mirror, you’re going to have to deal with a police officer. You want to be respectful and comply with police, or they might be forced to use excessive force. In addition to complying with an officer’s commands, you need to know that you are not free to leave. You are being detained until an officer says you are free to go. They are allowed to hold you as long as they need not exceeding 24 hours, so, by all means, don’t try to take off or could face a resisting arrest charge.
When an officer suspects you have been drinking, they are going to ask you a bunch of questions in hopes you trip up and say something incriminating. You must answer an officer’s questions, and you should be honest, but you don’t want to say something that can be used by prosecutors. It’s a delicate line between being truthful and saying too much. Overstepping that line could mean you’ll be spending the night in jail and facing thousands of dollars in DUI-related expenses.
It is possible to plead the Fifth as Forbes recommends, but be aware that an officer may perceive that as a lack of cooperation. Invoking your Fifth Amendment Rights won’t end your traffic stop, and police are still going to put you through field sobriety tests.
Sobriety Tests
After questioning you, an officer may ask you to participate in field sobriety tests. At this point, you have an important decision to make. If you have been drinking, and you go through sobriety tests, you will be giving them evidence to use against you. On the other hand, refusing to submit to field sobriety tests has major repercussions and will result in the immediate suspension of your driver’s license.
Bailing Out of Jail in San Diego
Being in jail is awful, no one likes it, and you’ll want to get out as quickly as possible. The best way to get out of jail as soon as possible is to contact a criminal defense attorney in California. If you are arrested for DUI, you’ll be taken to one of the following locations:
Jails in San Diego:
George F Bailey Detention
446 Alta Rd # 5300,
San Diego, CA 92158
Otay Mesa Detention Center
7488 Calzada De La Fuente,
San Diego, CA 92154
San Diego County Jail
1173 Front St.,
San Diego, CA 92101
Below are courthouse locations:
Superior Court Central Courthouse
220 W Broadway,
San Diego, CA 92101
Superior Court Kearny Mesa Courthouse
8950 Clairemont Mesa Blvd,
San Diego, CA 92123
Common DUI Charges in San Diego
San Diego is bustling California city, so thousands of people are arrested and convicted of DUI each year. Some standard DUI charges include:
Hit-and-run DUI
Impaired driving with a minor child
DUI accident involving injury or death
DUI drugs, often marijuana
If you are facing the above charges, let USAttorneys.com connect you with a DUI lawyer in San Diego. You need a vigorous defense to avoid a drunk driving conviction. The sooner you get legal help, the better your defense will be, and you can put your DUI charges behind you. Set up a time to talk defense strategies with one of our skilled and knowledgeable attorneys.
