Did I say too much during a DUI traffic stop?

When police officers pull people over on suspicion of a driving under the influence (DUI) violation, their focus is often on gathering evidence. They start by asking pointed questions or by trying to act companionable. The goal is to get the driver to make statements that warrant additional investigation.People sometimes admit to having had a few drinks. In many cases, they may assume that they can talk their way out of the situation. They try to explain that they have a high tolerance or that they regularly drink and never have any trouble getting home safely.People may then find themselves worrying after an arrest that what they said during the traffic stop could potentially hurt them if the case goes to trial.How much is too much to disclose to an officer during a traffic stop?

People don't have to volunteer anything

Ideally, people stopped by police officers do not volunteer any information. They answer questions briefly and do not expand on the basic information that they provide unless absolutely necessary.In fact, people can refuse to answer questions about their prior activities so long as they comply with requests to identify themselves and provide documentation related to licensing, registration and insurance coverage.Typically, the less that people say to police officers during a DUI traffic stop, the better. Police officers and prosecutors can use seemingly innocent statements as justification for arrest and prosecution.

Not all statements end up as usable evidence

The good news for people who may have overshared during a traffic stop is that the state doesn't automatically get to submit their statements as evidence.In some cases, a defense attorney can exclude some of their statements from criminal proceedings. If the officer cannot provide a valid justification for initiating the traffic stop, for example, any evidence gained during that inappropriate stop may not be admissible in court.Defendants hoping to fight pending DUI charges may need to review the state's evidence and their interaction with law enforcement carefully. Developing a thorough defense strategy with a skilled legal team can help people avoid a conviction even if they may have made the mistake of volunteering too much information to an officer.