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Exercise Your Legal RIGHTS when Stopped for a possible DUI

Exercise Your Legal RIGHTS when Stopped for a possible DUI

If you’re being stopped for a possible DUI (driving under the influence) it is super important that you exercise your legal rights! When you exercise your legal rights, you help protect yourself. If you don’t exercise your DUI rights, you will likely make your situation worse.

American Flag used in possible DUI blogExercise Your Legal Rights when Stopped for a possible DUI

  1. Exercise your right to an attorney. You have the right to either a private DUI attorney or a public defender. When being questioned by law enforcement, politely request to speak to your DUI attorney. If the officer doesn’t respond, ask again. The officer must give you the opportunity to contact an attorney, it is your legal right.
  2. Exercise your right to remain silent. A person has the right to remain silent both before and after a DUI arrest. It is very important to minimize talking to only requesting to speak with an attorney and that you would like to remain silent for the reminder of the questioning and arrest. If you don’t exercise your right to remain silent you will likely talk yourself into a conviction and into further legal trouble.
  3. Exercise your right to refuse search of any type of personal belongings, home, or vehicle. You have the right to be free from any unreasonable searches. Do not give the police permission to search your vehicle or personal items. The only exception is when the police reasonably believe you may be carrying a dangerous instrument, they can search for their safety.
  4. Refuse to perform the DUI field sobriety tests. These tests are voluntary tests, meaning you make the decision to take the test or not. You will not be in any legal trouble if you refuse to perform the DUI field sobriety tests. They are very difficult tests and designed for you to fail. Do not take the test.
  5. Refuse to take the DUI portable breath test. The DUI portable breath test is also a voluntary test, do not take the test. If you are arrested for DUI, you will be taken to the police station. While at the station be cooperative and take the DUI breath test or blood test, unless advised not to do so by your DUI attorney.

Now that you know some of your legal rights while being investigated for DUI, use them! And remember whenever stopped for a possible DUI ask to speak to your attorney immediately and exercise your right to remain silent!

Actor John Stamos enters Rehab after DUI Arrest

Actor John Stamos enters Rehab after DUI Arrest

Last month, “Full House” actor, John Stamos, was arrested in Beverly Hills for DUI, driving under the influence. And now with his career on the brink of taking off again, Stamos has decided to seek help by checking into rehab for substance abuse.

John Stamos, who played Uncle Jesse on “Full House” was allegedly so drunk and wasted that Beverly Hills police sent him straight to the hospital after arresting him for DUI.

Apparently on the night of his June arrest, police responded to multiple calls reporting a silver Mercedes driving dangerously on the roads. Law enforcement caught up with 51-year-old Stamos and pulled him over around 7:45 pm. Upon initial observation police felt Stamos needed immediate medical attention. They cuffed him and called an ambulance to rush him to the local hospital.

Police followed the ambulance to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where they cited Stamos for misdemeanor DUI while he was getting treatment.

The following morning John Stamos tweeted: “Thanks to everyone for their love & support. I’m home and well. Very appreciative of the BHPD & Cedars for their care.”

Now, about a month later, Stamos has enrolled himself in rehab for substance abuse. A wise decision since he has a lot a stake with Fall TV premiers right around the corner. Stamos once again stars as Uncle Jesse in the new Netflix “Fuller House” a follow-up to original “Full House.” The actor can also be seen on “Grandfathered” a Fox sitcom.

Unfortunately, Stamos lost his co-hosting position for the 2015 Emmy Awards scheduled to air on July 16th. He was replaced by Cat Deeley. It is unknown if the replacement was related to the DUI arrest or not.

Stamos is due back in court on September 11th to continue to address his DUI charge.

Good luck John Stamos, we hope you have a healthy recovery and that you obtain optimal results with your DUI case! – David O Defense

If help is needed for a DUI charge in Washington State, give the experienced DUI attorneys at David O Defense a call 206-459-6392 today!

Young Man Poses as Law Enforcement and Sets Up his own DUI Checkpoint

Crazy but true story out of Somerset, Pennsylvania where a young man pretended to be a State Trooper and set up a fake DUI checkpoint across state Route 601 at 4am in the morning.

According to the real Pennsylvania State Troopers, 19 year-old Logan Shualis, went to a lot of trouble to set the stage for his DUI checkpoint, including everything from; placing street  flairs in the road, parking his vehicle diagonally across the highway, dressing the part, and carrying a BB gun as if it were a real pistol.

One motorist who complied with the hokey DUI checkpoint said Shaulis claimed he was a PA State Trooper and required the driver to hand over his driver’s license, registration, and car insurance papers.

Logan’s hoax wasn’t convincing enough, suspicious drivers quickly notified law enforcement officials of the fake DUI checkpoint.  When the real state troopers arrived on scene, Shaulis tried to ditch his BB gun by giving it to the passenger in the car he had stopped at that time… saying, “I can’t get caught with this!”

fake State TrooperTo make matter’s worse for the young man, state troopers determined Shaulis was under the influence of alcohol during his DUI checkpoint charade.  State troopers also determined Shaulis must have driven drunk to the location where he set up his DUI checkpoint.  While Shaulis was under the influence of alcohol he was trying to arrest civilians for DUI as well – Crazy but true!

Logan’s checkpoint was shut down permanently and he was hauled off to jail.  He faces charges of DUI, impersonating a public servant, and unlawful restraint.

Luckily for us Washingtonions, we do not have to worry about DUI checkpoints, or fake ones for that matter!  However most States do allow for DUI checkpoints (aka sobriety checkpoints), so be careful while visiting the great states outside of Washington this summer!

States that do conduct DUI checkpoints include: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.