Piedmont, like many California cities, has an interesting history; of the original 14,330 acres on the east side of the San Francisco Bay owned by Don Luis Peralta, a significant portion eventually became the cities of Berkeley and Oakland, while a small portion of both those tracts became the city of Piedmont. Piedmont grew over the years, despite the fact that the only factory in the city—the Ladies Silk Culture Society—closed in 1895. In the twenties, Piedmont was known as the “City of Millionaires,” having more millionaires per square mile than in any other city in the U.S.
As a resident of Piedmont, you may be well-aware of the history of this picturesque city, as well as of the many spots in the city which are perfect for a relaxing drink with friends after a hard day’s work. Due to Piedmont’s location, many of these spots may actually be in Oakland or Berkley. Perhaps you have been to Adesso, an Italian restaurant and bar on Piedmont Avenue, which serves delicious small plates and a wide array of Italian wines. You may prefer Cato’s Ale House, also on Piedmont Avenue, a mellow pub with occasional live music, rotating beers on tap, and fun karaoke once a month.
Perhaps you’ve enjoyed an evening out, had a couple of drinks, and were on your way home when you saw the dreaded flashing lights in your rearview mirror. Of all the things you should remember right now, no matter how nervous you are, you should remember not to talk to the officer more than the bare minimum and that the outcome of this encounter may depend on calling a highly experienced Piedmont DUI attorney as soon as you possibly can.
Do’s and don’ts for a better outcome include the following:
- Do respond politely to the officer who pulls you over, and if you are even slightly impaired, do your best to pull yourself together and give this encounter the seriousness it deserves.
- Do always use your signal once you see the officer, and pull off the road carefully and properly.
- Don’t ever do something like throwing beer bottles out the window of your vehicle.
- Do have your license and registration ready for the officer, then sit quietly.
- Don’t make excuses if you were driving erratically.
- Do make a quick assessment of your appearance to ensure you do not look sloppy or disheveled.
Don’t drown your car in air freshener—it is not likely to deceive the officer and may only serve to make him or her more likely to decide you are guilty.
Don’t lie—in fact, don’t say anything at all. Telling the police officer you’ve had nothing to drink when it’s fairly obvious you have, is counterproductive. Such a lie will be introduced under “consciousness of guilt,” (you lied to disguise your guilt), if a breath or blood test later proves you have been drinking.
Don’t submit to field sobriety tests or the portable breathalyzer test if you’ve been drinking—it is your right to refuse, and if you’ve been drinking, neither of those will help your case. Once at the station, you will be required to submit to a desktop breathalyzer test or a blood test, which are mandatory.
Do submit to a portable breathalyzer test or field sobriety test if you have not been drinking, or have only had one glass of wine or beer—if both show you are sober, the officer will have no choice but to let you go home.
Do politely inform the officer if you have any type of impairment which would prevent you doing well on the tests. This could be an ear infection, an injury, or some types of medications.
Do pay attention to those around you if you are taken to jail. They are potential witnesses who could testify to your lack of any signs of intoxication.
Finally, do always call an experienced Piedmont DUI criminal defense attorney immediately who will be able to advise you of your rights and protect you from anything which could jeopardize your future chances in court.
Call the Oakland Law Offices of Nabiel C. Ahmed today to set up a free review of your case. Call us at (510) 907-6600—we serve Oakland, Piedmont, Berkeley, and all over the East Bay.
If you are already detained, we are also available for phone consultations and jail interviews.