If you feel as though your DUI investigation took you by surprise, you are not alone. After all, before you were stopped by the police, you were just driving around like everybody else on the road. Unfortunately, the moment that your vehicle caught the attention of a police officer, everything changed. The blue lights appeared in your rear view mirror and you made your way to the side of the road. You may have known why you were being pulled over, or you may have had no idea why you were being stopped. Either way, as the officer approached your vehicle, you were most likely wondering what the outcome of your traffic stop would be.

Perhaps you were optimistic. You may have thought that the officer would explain the reason for the stop, give you a verbal warning or maybe even a ticket, if you were speeding, and then let you go on your way. You might have imagined that the stop could take a while, because sometimes it seems to take officers a very long time to go back to their vehicle to check your license and registration or whatever else it is that they do while they are in there. It is even possible that you had a fear that your vehicle could be searched or you could be investigated for a DUI. If that was the case, you may have wondered what the officer would be looking for that could make the difference between an ordinary traffic stop and a lengthy investigation. Texas drivers should know that most of the things that trigger a DUI investigation come from an officer’s observations of and interactions with the driver of a vehicle.

Police officers often ask drivers where they are going, where they have been, and if they have been drinking. These questions are not small talk; they are attempts to gather information from you which could support further investigation of your person or your vehicle. What you may not know is that you do not have to answer these questions, especially if doing so will provide the officer with information that could get you into trouble. It is possible to be respectful and provide the officer with the things that they need without saying much at all. If the officer attempts to pressure you into talking more than you would like to, you may politely state that you wish to speak with your attorney before saying anything more.

Unfortunately, even if you say very little, things that an officer can see or smell, such as an open beer in the cup holder or liquor on your breath, may lead them to believe that you are driving while intoxicated. Sometimes, though, things that an officer believes are signs of intoxication may be present in cases where little to no alcohol has been consumed. Someone who has just received terrible news or as just had an argument may have been crying heavily for a long time, causing them to be red in the face, with red, puffy, watery eyes. Allergies and lack of sleep can also cause puffy, red eyes. If things like these that you cannot control get you on the wrong side of a DUI investigation, do not hesitate to challenge it.

If you have been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, don’t go through the legal process alone. An East Texas DUI Defense Attorney can help you to put up your best defense against DUI charges. To learn more, call attorney Alex Tyra today, and schedule a free consultation. We can be reached at (903) 753-7499, or submit a convenient online contact form.