The holidays bring thousands of visitors to our desert, resulting in drinking with abandon and meeting members of the Black and White Fraternity called the Riverside Sheriffs. The nervousness from this encounter causes drivers to develop Black and White Fever…especially if they have had a drink or two. Seeing police behind us we wonder if we did something wrong and whether we were about to be stopped.
Then the driver becomes the most careful driver on the road and starts to get nervous and sweat. When stopped, Black and White fever causes you to need multiple deodorant pads while worrying about being cited for speeding, let alone a DUI… if you had been drinking.
Imagine how you would feel if you were being followed by a Black & White Patrol Car and HAD BEEN DRINKING….. though not drunk? You think of the consequences of an arrest, conviction and loss of your driver’s license. That is when the “fever” kicks in.
In the Coachella Valley we have more DUI DEATHS per capita than anywhere else in California. We have all read in the Desert Sun and heard on our local stations of the many recent fatalities. I have represented many families pursuing a Wrongful Death against the DUI driver…and it is terrible… for all sides.
Law enforcement looks for drinking drivers and police set up Checkpoints during the year. However Riverside Sheriff is even more vigilant during the holidays that bring in visitors from all over the world. I have had DUI clients that I have never met from all over the States, Europe and Japan too.
Golden Rules you must follow when stopped for a possible DUI?
- Think carefully about what you say, your movement, body language and emotions. Please understand that you have a right, in a courteous way, to NOT TALK.
- You don’t have to submit to a breath test at the scene or Field Sobriety Tests. They are optional! Explain that you understand these tests are not mandatory and thus you elect not to take them. Explain you are happy to cooperate and take a blood test at the station. Many professionals believe that way your reading will be going down..
- Don’t argue with the police. Remember, anything you say or do can be used against you…and it is not what you say but what they thought they heard you say.
- Keep your hands where the police can see them.
- Don’t run.
- Don’t touch any police officer.
- Don’t resist cuffs, even if you believe you are innocent.
- Don’t complain at the scene or tell the police they are wrong and that you are going to file a complaint or that you know the Mayor etc….it will be in the report.
- Request a lawyer immediately upon your arrest.
- Remember the officer’s badge and patrol car numbers.
- Write everything down that you can remember immediately upon being released.
- Try to find witnesses and their names and phone numbers.
- If you are injured TAKE Pix of the injuries as soon as possible, but make sure you seek medical attention first.
Remember: Silence is Golden and Handcuffs are Silver so DON’T TALK to POLICE without your lawyer’s permission.
Though often referred to as a DUI criminal defense lawyer, I choose to not view my DUI clients as “criminals”. I prefer to view them, and more importantly to treat them, as good, honest people that have found themselves in a scary and unfortunate situation after screwing up.
I look upon my job as protecting the Constitutional Rights of every American who drinks and drives and gets in an accident or arrested for a DUI.
I do however “Change Hats” when I SUE Drunk Drivers for damages to my Injured or Deceased (Wrongful Death) clients.
DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE, CALL A TAXI, LYFT OR UBER………THEY ARE A LOT CHEAPER THAN GETTING IN AN ACCIDENT OR ARRESTED AND CALLING ME. LAW ENFORCEMENT WARNS “DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER”
Suggestions for future columns contact Dale Gribow 760-837-7500 or dale@dalegribowlaw.com.
DALE GRIBOW
“TOP LAWYER” – Palm Springs Life 2011-2018 (PI/DUI)
“TOP LAWYER” Inland Empire Magazine Nov 2016
10.0 AVVO Perfect Peer Rating
