Flagstaff DUI Lawyers Share What You Need to Know About DUI Defense

In the heat of battle on DUI cases, we often interview and cross-examine police officers. After one such interview in a DUI case in Northern Arizona, an officer told me, “Nabbing your client was like shooting fish in a barrel.” I asked what he meant by that. He said, “Your client had no idea what he was doing. I had the upper hand the entire time.” As a criminal defense attorney, that hit close to home and reinforced why it’s so important to understand the six leading defenses that can help you beat DUI charges in Northern Arizona, especially when facing aggressive police tactics."

That hit close to home for me and reinforced why it’s so important to understand the six leading defenses that can help you beat DUI charges in Northern Arizona, especially when facing aggressive police tactics.

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1. The Officer Ordered Me Out of My Can. Can He Do That?

He or she can do that. The police officer can order a driver to get out of their vehicle for any traffic stop, even a civil traffic violation like Arizona Revised Statutes section 28-701(A), or a stop sign violation, or even a “failure to produce evidence of financial responsibility” situation. The officer can have a driver get out and walk back to the patrol vehicle. This can be for further investigation of the traffic violation or for police officer safety.

2. The Officer Started Questioning Me About Contraband and Drugs. Can He Do That?

Arizona law provides that a police officer may stop and detain a person “as is reasonably necessary to investigate an actual or suspected violation of any traffic law committed in the officer’s presence. . .” A.R.S. section 13-3883(B). The stop and detention must not extend beyond what is reasonably necessary to investigate an actual or suspected violation of Arizona traffic law.

A police officer can extend a traffic stop to a more significant criminal investigation if the officer has reasonable suspicion that criminal activity is afoot. Or, the officer can complete the traffic stop and ask the driver if the driver would answer some more questions. Most drivers don’t know that they can say no. So, the conversation becomes a “mere encounter” or “consensual encounter” and the officer is free to keep asking questions.

3. The Officer Never Told Me That I Could Leave. Does He Have to Tell Me When I’m Free to Go?

No. The ability to leave is based on a totality of the circumstances analysis. For the officer to detain a person for further investigation beyond the traffic stop, the totality of the circumstances must give rise to a particularized and founded suspicion that a motorist is engaged in criminal activity. State v. Acosta, 166 Ariz. 254, 801 P.2d 49 (App. 1990).

If you want to leave, and want to stop answering questions, then say to the officer (politely), “I do not want to answer any more questions. Am I free to leave?” If you are free to leave, then go. If you are not free to leave, then ask, “Why am I being detained?” But at that point, if you are detained, do not answer any more incriminating questions.

4. When an Officer Asks if I Drank Alcohol, Do I Have to Answer?

No. Nobody has to make any self-incriminating statements. That’s why you have the right to remain silent.

5. Can I Refuse Field Sobriety Tests?

In Arizona, an officer cannot force you to do FSTs. In fact, all FSTs are voluntary. Officers don’t tell you that when you’re on the side of the road. They usually say, “I need you to do some tests for me.” But you can politely decline. This includes the horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN), or what is also referred to as the “eye test” or “pen test.” FSTs can also present a risk of harm to you, which is another reason you can decline (e.g., if you have a prior head injury or leg injury).

6. Can I Refuse a Portable Breath Test (PBT)?

The officer cannot force you to submit to a PBT. But, the Intoxilyzer 8000 is another story.

7. Can My Driving Privileges Be Suspended if I Refuse the Intoxilyzer 8000?

Wrong. If the officer has probable cause that you are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the officer does have the power to ask you to provide a breath, blood, or urine sample for scientific testing. This situation is covered by Arizona’s admin per se / implied consent laws.  If you refuse, you’ll get a 12-month suspension of your driving privileges in Arizona. Remember, the privilege to drive is exactly that—a privilege, not a constitutional or fundamental right.