Traffic stops happen when officers want to do randomized checks for sobriety among drivers on the road. However, they have to follow certain rules when doing these checks.
How do you handle these stops when you see them? And is there a way for you to avoid one in the first place?
Do not break traffic laws
LifeSafer discusses avoiding DUI traffic stops. Generally speaking, it is not illegal to avoid a traffic stop even if the officers do not provide an alternative route, which some states require them to do. You can easily look up your own detour and take it to avoid the stop.
However, you cannot break any other traffic laws while taking this new route. This includes illegal U-turns, illegal turns, driving over solid lines, cutting off other vehicles, driving aggressively, driving in the wrong lane and more.
Beware of watching officers
An officer can pull you over and ticket you for these violations of traffic laws. In addition, officers often keep an eye out for people who turn away from traffic stops due to presumptive suspicion of why a driver would want to avoid it. Thus, they may keep an eye out for other means of pulling you over. This can include broken tail lights or expired plate stickers.
Once an officer pulls you over, it is an easy matter for them to find a reason to give you blood alcohol content (BAC) tests. Thus, it is something to keep in mind if you want to avoid the DUI stop to avoid these tests in the first place.
