Reasonable Suspicion and DUI

For a police officer to pull you over for driving under the influence, they must first have a reasonable suspicion that you are over the legal limit. This means that the officer must have some sort of evidence, rather than just a belief that you are intoxicated, for the stop to have any validity. Reasonable suspicion is an important concept in the American criminal justice system because it protects the privacy of individuals from unreasonable searches by law enforcement professionals.

If you or someone you know has been arrested for driving under the influence, it is important that you pursue legal representation as soon as you can. An experienced criminal advocate can help to protect your rights and freedoms. Contact Rhode Island DUI defense lawyer James Powderly at 401-662-9006 today to learn more about what you can do to fight these charges.

Behaviors Warranting Reasonable Suspicion

For an officer to pull you over under reasonable suspicion that you are intoxicated, you must be exhibiting signs of erratic driving. Some of the most common signs of intoxicated driving that police officers look for include:

• Straddling lanes
• Weaving
• Driving off the road
• Swerving
• Driving significantly below the speed limit
• Drifting

Unless you exhibit these or other signs of erratic driving behavior, the officer cannot pull you over without cause.

Contact Us

If you or someone you know have been arrested for DUI, contact the Rhode Island DUI defense attorney James Powderly at 401-662-9006 to talk to an experienced legal professional and begin formulating your defense.