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The first thing to try to remember when you get pulled over for driving while intoxicated, and you WILL get pulled over if you do it: Do not get out of the car unless the police officer directs you to. If you get out sooner than directed to, you are asking for trouble. A "peace officer" can turn really unpleasant almost as soon as he/she sees your door opening on the driver side. STAY IN THE CAR - do not step away from the wheel.

It might look to an ever so diligent officer that you are trying to run or that you are trying to hide something in the car. Whatever it is, he/she won't like that you are trying to take control of the situation. Remain in your seat with your hands firmly on the wheel where they can be seen as the officer approaches your vehicle. Which brings me to the second thing to try to remember: Do not lean over or reach for anything in the glove box or under the seat. Again, wait for the officer to give you direction. You have just now entered the land of powerlessness. Get used to it.

The peace officer will need to see what you are doing at all times, but above that, they need to be in control and want to be able to tell you what to do, to see if you are coherent enough to take simple direction. Also, it is part of their job at that point, they are in power in this new land.

Of course, the third reason to stay in the car is to stay safe, you wouldn't want to be intoxicated and disorderly in front of an officer and you certainly would not want to stumble out into oncoming traffic. When you are being pulled over, you could get run over by another drunk driver as most drunks will focus on bright lights on the highway and have been known to take out a cop or two on the side of the road pulling over other suspected drunk drivers.

It is definitely my opinion that if you get pulled over for driving while intoxicated, and you WILL if you do it, be sure of that, just stay put and wait for direction from the powers that be. Once you have given up your license and registration, he/she will shine a light in your already bloodshot eyes and then you will here those six little words you only hope you won't hear "Please step out of the vehicle." Do so at that time and good luck.

Learn more about this author, Dawn Calvin.
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