Drinking and driving is a bad idea and puts innocent people at risk. Many times, a driver ultimately accused of DUI gets stopped by Florida law enforcement for speeding or erratic driving that appears suspicious or dangerous. Certainly, such police actions are meant to keep the driver and the general public safer.
The threshold blood alcohol content for drunk driving in Florida is .08. For many drivers, this is tricky because they typically have no way to personally determine their BAC level before getting behind the wheel. If a driver feels as if he or she has had too much to drink, clearly a risk exists for being arrested under suspicion of DUI.
State officials warn drivers that police will be setting up DUI checkpoints. These checkpoints are usually set up with police officers placed along the road and all drivers must stop if police indicate for them to do so. Though it is called a DUI checkpoint, police are also on the lookout for other traffic violations, such as not being restrained properly in a seat belt as required by law. A driver does not need to behave suspiciously to be stopped, as most checkpoints randomly stop several vehicles in a row.
Being accused of a DUI can be frightening. Often, police rely on circumstantial indicators such as the smell of alcohol on a person’s breath, poor performance in a field sobriety test or the sight of an open container in a person’s vehicle. However, drivers accused are presumed innocent unless and until the prosecution can provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime has been committed. Many drivers accused of DUI choose to seek the aid of an experienced attorney who can stand by a client and help challenge the charges in a court of law.