Well that was one of the 10 most terrifying minutes of my life...field sobriety test

Page 4 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
38,157
18,649
146
You always say "No", then it's his responsibility to prove you wrong. If you say "Yes", you're SOL..

edit: Being honest with law enforcement is not a good idea in most situations IMEXP
 

Kev

Lifer
Dec 17, 2001
16,367
4
81
Sounds like you ran into some pig on a power trip. Cops like that make people hate cops.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,483
8,344
126
You always say "No", then it's his responsibility to prove you wrong. If you say "Yes", you're SOL..

edit: Being honest with law enforcement is not a good idea in most situations IMEXP

I got pulled over about half a mile from the bar. For all I know a cop was sitting off the side some place and radioed down that I came from there. I figure about anything I said would have ended up the same way. Like I said, my eyes were bloodshot as hell from my contacts so they immediately had that against me. I figured I might as well be honest up front in hopes it resulted in some leniency later in the encounter. For all I know he would have forced the breathalyzer and found *some* evidence of alcohol and then wrote me up for something at the end. I walked away with nothing than a dent in pride. It could have been a couple tickets for something they could have come up with.

Maybe if it happens again in a different situation I'll answer differently, last night I don't think it was going to change anything.
 

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
38,157
18,649
146
I got pulled over about half a mile from the bar. For all I know a cop was sitting off the side some place and radioed down that I came from there. I figure about anything I said would have ended up the same way. Like I said, my eyes were bloodshot as hell from my contacts so they immediately had that against me. I figured I might as well be honest up front in hopes it resulted in some leniency later in the encounter. For all I know he would have forced the breathalyzer and found *some* evidence of alcohol and then wrote me up for something at the end. I walked away with nothing than a dent in pride. It could have been a couple tickets for something they could have come up with.

Maybe if it happens again in a different situation I'll answer differently, last night I don't think it was going to change anything.

What I said is true no matter what. Cops are out to make numbers, protect yourself.

edit: Cops in my area used to(don't know if they still do) go to bars and put chalk marks on the rear tires, that way they could see these markings and know who's coming from the bar. They are not your friend..

edit: I didn't even address the questions he was asking you. You are under no legal obligation to answer any personal questions. Such as, Why were you on the phone? What hospital? What's IT??? To those, you just stay silent....it's none of their business.
 
Last edited:

Specop 007

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2005
9,454
0
0
Meh. DUI/DWI is hardly the end of the world. Its almost a laughable issue on the first offense. 500-1000 in fines, few months probation and 50 bucks a month additional charges on monthly insurance costs.

Not insignificant but nothing to panic about.

Frankly I'd call the sheriff and file a complaint about him acting like a jackass.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,483
8,344
126
Meh. DUI/DWI is hardly the end of the world. Its almost a laughable issue on the first offense. 500-1000 in fines, few months probation and 50 bucks a month additional charges on monthly insurance costs.

State of IL actually posts a number that a DUI will cost you almost $14,000 by the time you account for penalty, court, attorney, insurance, and lost work time fees.
 

Cerpin Taxt

Lifer
Feb 23, 2005
11,940
542
126
So next question...can you actually get a DUI if a breathalyzer or blood test show you with a .01? Or can at best (worst?) the cop cite you for reckless driving or something like that?

Oh, I found it odd he never asked me for my insurance or registration.

A long time ago, I was in a similar situation as you. Got the field test, then the field breathalyzer. Blew a .06 and the cops sent me on my way.

I had almost made it home, too. I was driving my gf and her sister to our house, but we needed to stop for cigarettes. As I pulled in the 7-11 there was a cruiser with 2 cops backed in right in front of the shop.

It wouldn't have even been a big deal, but my gf was so housed that she passed out in the passenger seat slumped over her seatbelt with her hair hanging down all over the place.

I learned like you that you never admit anything to an officer. Nothing you can say to a cop can help you, but they will sure as hell use anything they can against you.

EDIT: I'm sure this has been posted before, but it's relevant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc
 
Last edited:

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
All that shouting and what not was all for the video tape he was making.

Specop, first off many insurance companies are not going to ding someone on a first DUI without property damage/injury. $50/month is quite a jump though for most.

In most places the final cost tally for a DUI is closer to $5000 once the towing, classes, etc, loss of wages, need to get a ride everywhere the first few months, are all factored in. This is without an attorney.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
I learned like you that you never admit anything to an officer. Nothing you can say to a cop can help you, but they will sure as hell use anything they can against you.

QFT, the one or two beers line is the most typical one a cop hears when he is pulling over someone that clearly had more.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,483
8,344
126
QFT, the one or two beers line is the most typical one a cop hears when he is pulling over someone that clearly had more.

Heh. For what little it's worth I was sitting with six MD's at the table that would all vouch if needed.

:D
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,165
1,637
126
State of IL actually posts a number that a DUI will cost you almost $14,000 by the time you account for penalty, court, attorney, insurance, and lost work time fees.

My brother got a DUI and it costed him an arm and a leg. He also couldn't drive for 6+ months (he couldn't afford to put the breathalizer in his car)... he got probation, and it probably costed him about 7K for penalty, court and attorney. After he got his license back, his insurance went up by like $100 per month, so he's paying $1200 per year more than before, probably will continue to do so for 3 or 4 years...

So, overall ... it may be under 14K for him, but .... adding everything up, pretty close...

And for somebody who is in their early 20s and makes like 20K per year, it is a crushingly high amount, essentially destroyed any semblence of credit that he had.

Ohh, and he blew a .081.
He shouldn't have been on the road. He should have known better. But, he was so damn close to legal....
 

M0oG0oGaiPan

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2000
7,858
2
0
digitalgamedeals.com
Sure you can do that. But that means do not pass go, do not collect $200, and go directly to jail.

officer made me do a field sobriety test. used a pencil, flashlight and i can't remember the other crap.

asked me if i wanted to go with what he saw or take the breathalizer. i said just go with what you saw.

he let me go.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,483
8,344
126
asked me if i wanted to go with what he saw or take the breathalizer. i said just go with what you saw.

That's a little different than refusing the breathalyzer.

Really though, I think the average person getting pulled over (especially on their first time) is completely screwed when it comes to these things. The deck is stacked so much against you it really comes down to a) are you really dunk and b) what kind of mood is the cop in. I doubt it really matters what you say. A cop is going to draw his own conclusions and run with it from there hoping you slip some where.

I think the cop was just pissed off that it wasn't a slam dunk for him. I really wasn't drunk and he had nothing on me.
 

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,517
223
106
Sorry for your bad experience, OP. :\

You should have said no to any drinks at all. Also you should have declined to take those tests. There is no real way to pass/fail them but the officer makes observations of how you perform during the tests. Afaik the only test you can get in trouble for declining is the breathalyzer at the station after being arrested for suspicion of DUI.

Assuming we are talking about Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, you could not be more wrong.
 
Last edited:

CRXican

Diamond Member
Jun 9, 2004
9,062
1
0
You're supposed to say no when they ask you that. Especially if it was only one beer.
 

paperfist

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2000
6,517
280
126
www.the-teh.com
Damn we need some cops like that here! People don't even stop for a stop sign half of the time and you can actually drive by a patrol officer at night with one light out and they won't stop and ticket you.