Top Reasons Police Pull A Driver Over
When an officer makes a DUI stop, that officer must have probable cause to do so. There must have been something about the way the driver was operating the vehicle or the vehicle itself that alerted that officer that the person behind the wheel may be driving while under the influence. The following are some of the reasons that police cite in their arrest reports as to why they pulled the driver over. In some cases, a Salt Lake City UT DUI lawyer may be able to show that there was no valid probable cause and therefore the stop itself violated the driver’s rights. Poor driving: Police officers are allowed to pull drivers over if they observe the vehicle lane jumping, traveling too slow, driving the wrong way, or exhibiting other erratic driving behaviors. Any of these may indicate a driver is intoxicated. Traffic violations: Getting stopped for a traffic violation is one of the most common probable cause scenarios resulting in DUI arrests. Because of their intoxication, the driver may fail to notice traffic lights or stop signs. They may be speeding. Other violations may have to do with the vehicle itself, like having a headlight light. Car accidents: A police officer should be called to the scene of every accident in order to document accident liability, however, if one of the drivers is under the influence of alcohol, it is highly likely the officer will detect that based on any number of factors. In fact, observing for any signs of DUI at an accident scene is something law enforcement routinely does.