OWI Arrests During the Fourth of July: What You Need to Know
With the Fourth of July just around the corner, it generally means family and friends getting together and throwing a few back. Accordingly, law enforcement will have a heavy presence over the Fourth of July weekend and look to pull you over for any traffic violation. This could mean that they will be stopping you for small traffic violations such as a broken rear taillight or speeding only a couple of miles per hour over the posted speed limit.
The fact is law enforcement does not really care that you are going 2 mph over the speed limit, they just want a legal reason to stop you so they can check if you have been drinking or using a little marijuana.
What to Do If You Get Pulled Over
Note if you are stopped by law enforcement and they ask you to get out of your vehicle to perform field sobriety tests, remember you do not have to perform the field sobriety tests in Iowa. I should mention that you do have to get out of your vehicle if you are ordered out, though.
Field sobriety tests are a tool that the officer will use against you if they decide to charge you with an OWI, which is why you should not give them this tool. Next, the officer will be friendly with you but know they are not your friend. They are simply being nice to you so that they can get you to agree or consent to do certain things for them so they can gather evidence against you.
If the officers are being friendly to you, you should be polite back to them but decline their requests to perform field sobriety tests and answer their questions about how much you drank.
My favorite question law enforcement asks drivers is, “On a scale from 1-10, with 1 being you’re a little buzzed and 10 being you’re hammered drunk, what would you say you are tonight?” Answering this question with a number can only be bad for you. Simply tell the officer you do not want to answer their questions. I should importantly note that you will need to provide them your name, insurance card, registration, etc., but do not provide them any information in regard to their OWI investigation.
Arrested for DUI? Call Today.
If the officer believes you are intoxicated/high he will take you back to the police station. Make sure you contact an attorney before deciding whether you should blow into the Datamaster at the police station. If you have any questions about Iowa OWIs, do not hesitate to reach out to the Feld Law Firm at (515) 996-4441 and we would be happy to answer your questions.