Many drivers have experienced the dread of seeing flashing lights in the rearview mirror. A driver might worry they will receive a ticket, have to pay fines, and that the stop will make them late for work or another destination. For others, however, a traffic stop can be a much more serious event. A stop could end up with you in handcuffs and heading to the police station for booking.
If you were arrested at a traffic stop, you need the right legal assistance immediately. Contact a Montgomery criminal defense attorney if you get arrested while stopped by police.
Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
One of the most common reasons that drivers get arrested during traffic stops is that the officer conducting the traffic stop suspects that a driver is drunk or on drugs. Typically, an officer will develop a suspicion that the driver is intoxicated during their initial contact when they ask the driver for their license and registration. In addition, the small talk in which police engage is often designed to allow them to evaluate a driver’s mental state. In other words, the cop doesn’t really care where you are going, but they want to see how you respond.
If you are pulled over, the officer suspects you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they will likely ask you to step out of the car. They may ask you to perform roadside sobriety testing or perform a breathalyzer test. In most cases, these tests should be refused, as the officer has likely already made up his or her mind about your sobriety. These kinds of tests are just an attempt to gain more evidence against you.
Drug or Weapon Arrests
Officers often use traffic stops as opportunities to determine whether a driver has illegal contraband in the vehicle. Authorities in Alabama recently made the following drug or weapon-related arrests after pulling drivers over:
- An arrest for 207 grams of fentanyl, 27 grams of heroin, pills, and firearms
- A drug trafficking arrest of two people for 4.5 pounds of methamphetamine
- An arrest for almost three pounds of marijuana
Finding contraband in a vehicle is a common reason for traffic stop-arrests, and these arrests can lead to serious criminal cases. You want a lawyer to defend you and examine whether any searches of your vehicle were unlawful.
Certain Driving Violations
While many traffic violations result in a ticket, others can mean you are headed to the police station. These include:
- Driving on a suspended or revoked license
- Driving without insurance
- Reckless driving
- Driving violations that resulted in injury or death
Some driving violations can be charged as crimes, and these can result in the loss of your license in many cases. It is critical to have the right defense against such allegations.
Let a Montgomery Criminal Defense Lawyer Help You
If you have been accused of a crime, it’s in your best interest to contact an attorney right away. At Luck Law, LLC, we focus our practice on helping criminal defendants resolve their issues as favorably as possible. Contact us to begin building your defense today.
