| Most drunk driving cases start out with a | | | | light. However, faulty equipment (head light, |
| contact between the driver of a motor vehicle | | | | tail light, muffler) or expired registration |
| and a police officer. While the police have | | | | will provide the necessary reason to pull a |
| the right to approach and speak with any | | | | driver over. A driver involved in an accident |
| citizen, they do not have the right to detain | | | | or in a car blocking the roadway may also |
| and investigate a citizen unless they have | | | | give the officer the right to detain and |
| "probable cause". | | | | investigate. |
| | | | |
| Probable cause is the legal reason an officer | | | | It is therefore important to discuss with the |
| needs to detain and investigate. If the dui | | | | dui attorney the manner of driving. If the |
| attorney can show to the judge the officer | | | | driver was acting legally, or if the officer |
| did not have probable cause, the case can be | | | | did not see the driver actually operate the |
| dismissed. | | | | vehicle, the case may be dismissed. Not only |
| | | | does the officer need probable cause to |
| Most detentions begin with the officer | | | | detain and investigate, there must also be a |
| pulling over a driver who has committed a | | | | legal reason to arrest. The officer will make |
| vehicle code infraction. The common reasons | | | | his decision to arrest based on two or three |
| alleged by the police are based on poor | | | | factors: his observations, the field sobriety |
| driving - speeding, weaving within or outside | | | | test, and in some jurisdictions, a breath |
| the lane, running of a stop sign or red | | | | test conducted in the field. |