DUI - Probable Cause to
STOP/contact a Driver
Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles
& Orange County
DUI Criminal Lawyer &
Attorney
The basis for probable cause in most
cases is a California Vehicle Code
violation. This means an officer will
have stopped you based on his/her personal
observation of you driving in a manner
that violates one or more sections
of California’s Vehicle Code (ex. speeding,
weaving between different lanes, unsafe
lane changes, headlights off at night,
expired registration, illegal window
tint, no front license plate, etc…).
There are also situations wherein an
officer may contact you even if he/she
has not observed any illegal driving.
Some examples:
- A third party may call 911 to report
erratic driving behavior which leads
the caller to the belief that the
driver may be under the influence
and he/she provides make/model of
the car, license plate number, location,
etc…
- An officer can approach a car stopped
on the side of a freeway and question
the driver regarding possible mechanical
or medical problems.
- If an officer is called to or comes
upon a traffic accident, he/she can
contact those involved.
- A hit and run was reported and
an officer is looking for a vehicle
that matches a certain description/license
plate number or is going to the home
of the registered vehicle owner.
Regardless of how you are contacted,
once an officer is given probable cause
to do so, if he/she thereafter believes
they observe objective symptoms of
alcohol intoxication (such as the odor
of alcohol on your breath/person, slurred
speech, red/watery/bloodshot eyes,
trouble standing/walking, etc…), they
can conduct a full DUI investigation.
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