You never want to find yourself pulled over to the side of the road by a police officer. This is even more so the case if you have alcohol in your system.

If you’re stopped for suspicion of DUI, you need to follow a few key pointers:

• Provide the requested documentation. The officer will start by asking for your license, registration and insurance card. It’s nice to have this readily available, so you don’t have to search long and hard to find it.
• Be courteous and respectful. There’s nothing wrong with this behavior, as long as you stop short of admitting you did something wrong.
• Don’t give the officer reason to dive deeper. For example, if you say you only had one drink with dinner, it gives the officer reason to believe you may be under the influence.
• You can refuse to partake in field sobriety tests. Unless you are 100 percent confident that you’re sober, you can decline.
• Think before taking a chemical test. If you decline to do so, it can result in an automatic license suspension. However, if there are no test results during your court case, it’s more difficult to prove that you were in the wrong.

You’ll have a lot going through your mind during a DUI traffic stop, as you realize that this is a serious crime that can alter your life in many ways.

If you find yourself fighting DUI criminal charges, make sure you understand your legal rights and the strategy you can employ to held avoid the most serious penalty.