In a city where bars are open 24 hours a day and you can drink at any time; Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol is one of the biggest problems in Las Vegas.
In the state of Nevada, police need a reason to stop you. Whether it’s speeding, drifting in your lane, or running a stop sign, all are acceptable reasons for a police officer to pull you over. If a police officer stops you and you have been drinking, the police officer will look for the following:
(1) Do you have red eyes?
(2) Does your breath smell like alcohol?
(3) Are you slurring your words?
(4) Are there visible signs of alcohol consumption in your vehicle, such as an empty beer bottle on the passenger seat?
All of the above is something police officers look for before moving on to the next phase. If you notice slurred speech, red eyes, the smell of alcohol, or empty beer bottles, you will be asked to get out of the car to perform standardized field sobriety tests. If you choose not to take these tests, this gives a police officer a reason to ask you to provide you with a breathalyzer or a blood sample to obtain an indicator of your blood alcohol level. The three field sobriety tests used in Nevada are the same ones used nationwide. It is the eye/gaze test, the walking the line test, and standing on one foot. When conducting these field tests, it is important to remember to be courteous to the officer and follow instructions closely. In most cases,
Remember, the safest thing is NOT TO DRINK AND DRIVE! Call a taxi or a friend to pick you up.
If you have any additional questions or would like to speak with a Las Vegas DUI attorney regarding this process, please contact our office at 702-333-4223 .