Drunk Driving Laws in Richmond

Your Rights in a DWI Arrest

Clients always ask us what their rights are during a stop and DWI arrest in Fort Bend County. For most people this question comes after they have been stopped, arrested, and charged—a little too late to help them understand how they should behave and their legal rights.

The law protects your rights during a DWI arrest and it is advantageous to understand these rights and their implications:

  • You have the right to refuse a BAC test during a DWI arrest.
  • You have the right to refuse a search of your vehicle or personal belongings.
  • You have the right to retain counsel as soon as requested.
  • You have the right to not say anything during the stop and arrest procedure.

The drunk driving lawyers in Richmond want everyone to understand these rights before they have been stopped. People armed with this knowledge can make informed decisions as to how to behave and what actions they would like to take during the arrest procedure.

Behavior during a DWI arrest

The Richmond DWI law does not require you to comply with every request of the arresting officers during a DWI arrest. It does however require that you behave in a respectful and civil manner when interacting with law enforcement officials.

It is a good idea to try to remain calm and not behave in a way that the court may view in a negative light:

  • Excessive use of profanity
  • Attempts to physically assault the officers
  • Resisting or fleeing arrest

The behavior of the accused during a DWI arrest is often the subject of heated courtroom arguments. The prosecution often tries to hinge the idea of presumed guilt around a defendant’s actions that are erratic, violent, or in other ways possibly symptomatic of intoxication.

Police officers are human beings and capable of making mistakes. Their behavior during DWI arrest in Fort Bend County is as important as yours. If you are abused, mishandled, or subject to improper procedures the court has a vested interest in seeing justice served for those actions.

For a drunk driving lawyer in Richmond, contact us at 281-265-1515 or use the online email form.