Police officers are going to be out in force on Connecticut roads through New Year's in patrol cars and at DUI checkpoints. If you were driving under the influence and managed to avoid having to stop at a checkpoint, getting pulled over or having police get involved at the scene of an accident, you might think that you're in the clear. However, that's not necessarily the case.
It's not often that people are arrested for a DUI after they've arrived at their destination. However, it is a possibility that everyone should be aware of.
The fact that someone was driving under the influence can be more difficult to prove when he or she is no longer behind the wheel. However, depending on how quickly the police reach you, it may not be difficult to determine if you were over the legal limit and by how much while you were driving. Police are allowed to administer sobriety tests after you've left your vehicle.
Other evidence of DUI can be used against you as well. There are recording devices on roads throughout the northeast that show cars at toll booths, on bridges and at other locations on the roads. If one of these devices or even an eyewitness catches you driving erratically, that can be used to make an arrest and in the prosecution's case against you.
The good news is that there are more possible defenses against a DUI charge after the fact than if a person is stopped and tested while still on the road. For example, if police didn't test your blood alcohol level for awhile after you were driving, it may be difficult if not impossible to prove that you didn't start drinking until after you reached your destination.
Of course, it's best not to drive while you're under the influence of any amount of alcohol. However, an experienced Connecticut criminal defense attorney can help advise you of the best way to handle a DUI.
Source: FindLaw, "Can I Be Arrested for DUI After the Fact?," Christopher Coble, Esq., Dec. 02, 2015