One Thing to NEVER Do When Pulled Over for Drunk Driving in Calgary

If you've been paying attention, you know that it's illegal to drive on Calgary's roads, or on any public road in Alberta, with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .05 or greater, and that a BAC of .08 or greater can see you facing a criminal charge for impaired driving or "DUI" (driving under the influence).

What you might not know is that you can find yourself charged with a crime if you're simply suspected of drunk driving, and you make one serious mistake.

That's right. Even if you haven't touched a drop, even if you aren't in the least bit intoxicated, if a Calgary Police officer or other law enforcement official pulls you over and suspects you of drunk driving, the wrong move can find you facing a criminal charge.

Here's what you need to know.

No matter what you're pulled over for, speeding, a broken taillight, a sobriety checkpoint of "Check Stop" where all drivers are forced to stop, a law enforcement officer who has any reasonable suspicion that you may be impaired can require you to submit to a roadside breath analysis and/or perform other roadside sobriety tests.

Refusing to comply with a request to submit to roadside sobriety tests is a crime all by itself.

Whether or not you're ultimately charged with a DUI, you could find yourself inside a Calgary Police station being processed simply for refusing to submit to a test. And that charge could potentially proceed all the way to a criminal conviction.

Don't make the mistake. Comply with law enforcement requests, and if you're arrested for suspicion of a DUI, call a Calgary defence lawyer immediately.