Behaviors that Police use as Proof of Drunken Driving

Drunk driving is a serious crime that thousands of people are charged with every year in Maryland. Law enforcement agencies throughout the state do their best to crack down on drunk and impaired driving, even announcing targeted enforcement days or weekends during various holidays as warnings. The police assigned to traffic details throughout Maryland, including Rockville, are trained to spot drunk and impaired drivers supposedly in an effort to make the roads of the state as safe as possible. Today, we will examine the behaviors that police use as proof of drunk driving.

Difficulties with Braking and Speed

Drivers who are impaired because of alcohol consumption will most often have trouble with their speed and with knowing when to brake and when not to brake. Problems with distance will also occur when a driver is impaired.

Some of the behaviors police officers use to prove drunk driving when it comes to difficulties with braking and speed include the following:

Stopping at a weird angle
Stopping too far from the curb
Making short, quick, or jerky stops
Stopping after or well before a painted line (crosswalk)
Slowing down or speeding up suddenly for no reason
Failing to maintain a consistent speed
Driving at speeds that are 10 MPH above or below the posted speed limit

Difficulties Keeping the Vehicle Between the Lines

Impaired or drunk drivers will often have trouble keeping their vehicle between the lines on the road. This includes staying within their marked lane, staying out of the marked shoulder, and stopping before a stop line at an intersection. The signs police officers use here include the following:

Weaving across lanes of traffic or in and out of traffic
Hitting other vehicles or objects outside of the designated lane of travel
Drifting towards one side of the road or the other
Straddling the shoulder line or the lane dividing line
Making abrupt turns, swerving, making wide turns, drifting away from the turning radius

Difficulties Judging Things While Driving

Impaired and drunk drivers will also have difficulties making judgments when they are behind the wheel. The high level of alcohol in the system will impair the driver’s ability to judge distance, speed, timing, weather conditions, road conditions and other important factors needed to safely operate a vehicle. The police will look for the following:

Driving in an improper lane
Making illegal turns
Tailgating
Driving off the road
Making erratic or unsafe lane changes
Drooping of the head, falling asleep at the wheel, falling to one side or the other

Difficulties with the Driving Conditions

Drunk drivers will struggle to identify the driving conditions, including the traffic signs, traffic signals, the movement of other vehicles and other items. Police will be on the lookout for the following signs when working traffic detail:

Responding slowly to a green light
Driving the wrong way or on the wrong side of the road
Driving without headlights when it’s dark
Using the wrong turn signal when making a turn
Slowing down or stopping too quickly for no reason at all

Visual Signs of Drunk Driving at a Traffic Stop

The police officer who pulls you over for suspicion of drunk driving will be on the lookout for the following visual signs during the traffic stop:

Slurred speech
Open containers of alcohol in the vehicle
Odor of alcohol in the vehicle or on your breath
Trouble getting out of the document
Fumbling with your documents
Needing to lean on the vehicle to hold yourself upright
Poor motor skills
Asking the officer to repeat questions
Mumbling when answering questions
Not answers the questions correctly

Officers conducting DUI checkpoints or who have pulled you over for suspicion of DUI will also look for dilated pupils, a flush face, vomiting and other issues with the driver’s health.

Call to Schedule an Appointment with a DUI Defense Attorney Today

Were you arrested for suspicion of DUI in Maryland? You should never go through the legal system alone. You deserve strong representation from an experienced criminal defense attorney. Call the office of Jonathan Fellner in Rockville today at 301-309-2000 to schedule a consultation about your arrest. It is possible that the traffic stop was conducted without probable cause, in which case we may be able to get the charges dropped.