This is a guest blog courtesy of the accident lawyer experts at Accidents.com.
Most people believe DUI convictions are straightforward – you get pulled over, blow above the legal limit, and automatically spend the night in jail while hunting down some expert DWI lawyers or DUI accident attorneys. But, they’re not always that simple.
There are several factors that play a part in whether you walk away without punishment – or spend the night in jail. And luckily, there are several things you can do beforehand to help minimize the risk of getting pulled over:
- Check your license plate and stickers – Each month, check your license plate to make sure it’s properly affixed to your car and you have the proper registration stickers to go with it.
- Check your vehicle’s lights each month – In the same way, do a thorough check of your vehicle’s headlights, tail lights, break lights, etc. to make sure they’re properly working. Even having one of these out is a reason for a police officer to pull you over, even if you’re driving safely.
- Keep a clean appearance – Make sure your car doesn’t have too-dark windows and is fairly clean. You should also make sure to fix any body damage. Why? Officers are much more likely to pull over a car that’s looks like it’s been in a previous accident.
- Blend in with traffic – If the only way to get home is a busy route, try to blend in with the traffic while keeping a safe distance from the car in front of you. Studies have shown you’re much less likely to get pulled over when among other cars.
- Drive during normal hours – If you drive right after bar close or after a local sporting event or festival, you’re more likely to get pulled over because cops are looking for drunk drivers. Avoid these peak times if at all possible.
- Take a different route – Find the route home that has the least amount of traffic, bars, and restaurants, even if it means driving a little bit further. Driving on the roads in your neighborhood put you at a much smaller chance of getting pulled over.
- Turn off the music – A loud radio is one of the most common ways to get distracted while driving, as you may soon find yourself singing along to the music. Instead, turn off the radio and focus on your driving.
Each of these factors can play a big role in helping ensure you don’t get pulled over. However, they’re not fool-proof so remember – having a designated driver or taking public transportation is always the best choice.
