If you drive to work every day, then your driving privileges in Texas are very important to you. Maybe you rely on the car to visit your family or to go out and relax during your downtime. In any case, a DWI conviction could have a significant impact on your life.
Drunk driving is a top priority for law enforcement in the Lone Star State. Impaired driving is the root cause of numerous accidents across the state each year. As a result, law enforcement is always on the lookout for impaired drivers.
There are restrictions on how law enforcement can investigate though. They cannot act in an arbitrary manner or through prejudice, and target innocent civilians. Outlined below are some of the key reasons why law enforcement might pull you over.
Breaking the speed limit
Before an officer interferes with your liberty, they must have probable cause that you are engaging in criminal activity. If you have exceeded the speed limit, this gives officers a legitimate reason to pull you over. After further questioning, it is possible that officers see fit to put you through field sobriety tests or even a breathalyzer test.
Other conduct
Speeding is not the only type of traffic violation that may lead to further investigations. If your car is not roadworthy or your registration has expired, it is likely that you’ll be pulled over. Perhaps you’ve run a red light? Even if this was a genuine error, it could give officers grounds to conduct further questioning and sobriety tests.
Not all searches are legal
Police officers are often sincere in carrying out their duties, but this is not always the case. You have a host of legal rights at your disposal if you have been pulled over. The stop and subsequent searches or questioning could be deemed unlawful, which means you should not face criminal penalties. Having someone on your side with the relevant knowledge will help you to obtain the most favorable outcome.
