| The Process of Being Charged with DUI | | | | Field sobriety tests serve to bring light to any loss of |
| Being pulled over for suspected DUI (driving under | | | | physical or cognitive abilities in the driver. There are |
| the influence) can be quite frightening. When you look | | | | three standardized field sobriety tests that have |
| in your rearview mirror and see the flashing red and | | | | been developed by the National Highway |
| blue lights of a cop car, you will likely feel a sinking | | | | Transportation Safety Administration: the Horizontal |
| moment of dread, especially if you know you are | | | | Gaze Nystagmus, the Walk-and-Turn, and the |
| driving when you shouldn't be. You pull over to the | | | | One-Leg Stand. While these are the most commonly |
| side of the road and place your hands on the | | | | given field sobriety tests, there are others, as well, |
| steering wheel, wondering what to say and how to | | | | that officer may choose to use. |
| best protect yourself from arrest. | | | | Booking and Bail |
| A DUI conviction is powerful enough to significantly | | | | If the officer decides that you are incapable of |
| change your life. It can prevent you from gaining | | | | safely operating your automobile, then he or she will |
| employment, from being renting apartments, or even | | | | take you into custody and you will have to go |
| from getting into school. If you are pulled over for | | | | through the booking and bail process. During booking, |
| DUI, you should be aware of what to expect and | | | | the workers at the police station will take down all of |
| how to get the legal protection you will need. | | | | your physical and personal information, run a |
| In-Field Testing | | | | background check on you, take your photograph and |
| After you have been stopped by a law enforcement | | | | fingerprints, and place you in a jail or holding cell. |
| officer, he or she will likely ask you a number of | | | | Following booking, you have the option of paying bail |
| questions regarding your recent history - for | | | | so that you can be temporarily released from police |
| example, whether or not you have been drinking. If | | | | custody. Bail is a sum of money that you give to the |
| you are suspected of driving while intoxicated, then | | | | court system in exchange for your freedom. When |
| the officer may ask you to step out of the vehicle | | | | you return to the court on your trial date, it will be |
| and submit to alcohol testing. You will be administered | | | | returned to you. If you fail to show, then the court |
| either a battery of field sobriety tests or an in-field | | | | will keep your money and you will also be charged |
| chemical test, like a portable breathalyzer. | | | | with failure to show, another criminal offense. |