Must You Talk to the Police When Being Pulled Over for a Dui?

Most people don’t associate with the police on a regular basis, and getting pulled over can be a scary incident for them. When an officer accuses you of a DUI, you likely want to do everything possible to protect your legal interests. Many South Carolina residents are unclear if they actually have to talk to the police when being pulled over or if they can just remain silent.

You’ll need to present your driver’s license

Part of getting your driver’s license in any state requires you to sign a waiver. This waiver states that you’ll provide your driver’s license to any police officer that pulls you over. This simply means that if you’re pulled over on suspicion of a DUI, it’s your legal obligation to prevent the officer with your driver’s license upon request. Most states also require that you turn over proof of your insurance to ensure that it’s valid.

You don’t have to talk

In reality, you do not have to speak to the officer that is pulling you over. It’s your legal right to remain silent. However, it’s best not to just approach this situation by not talking. Rather, you can simply let the officer know that you would like to invoke your right to remain silent for their questioning. A simple notation that you would like to have your lawyer present before answering any of their questions can be enough to alert the officer that you won’t be answering any questions.

Getting pulled over by the police may not be something that you really want to think about. However, it’s a good idea to understand what your rights are so that you don’t incriminate yourself in a court of law. If you have any legal questions regarding being pulled over in your state, it’s a good idea to speak to an attorney about them.