How Actions During a DUI Stop Can Lead to Bribery Charges

If you are stopped for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (DUI), law enforcement police officers have a strict set of guidelines and regulations that they must follow in response to that DUI stop. The police officer must detail and document every step of the process in order for their DUI charge to be defended in a court of law. If you are stopped under the suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, your behavior may not only get you charged with a DUI, it may also get you charged with bribery.

Understanding Bribery

Bribery is illegally offering money or other benefits in return for a favor. In the event that you are stopped for a DUI, the officer likely has another police officer with them, or a video camera on the dashboard of their car, or even on their person. Police officers now attempt to record their interactions during arrest as proof that they did not do anything incorrectly or illegally. If you attempt to offer a police officer money, goods, or favors in exchange for letting you go without arrest, you can be charged not only with a DUI, but also bribery. From overtly asking if $1,000 will “take care of this issue,” to subtly hinting and questioning if there is any way to “sort out the issue now,” if a police officer feels that you are attempting to bribe him or her, you may have a bribery charge as well as a DUI to contend with.

Protecting Yourself If Stopped for a DUI

If you are stopped under the suspicion of a DUI, you should follow these steps to ensure the best possible outcome under the circumstances.

• Pull your vehicle over to the side of the road calmly.
• Be polite when the police officer comes to your car to visit with you.
• Provide the police officer with your driver’s license and proof of insurance.
• Never admit to actually drinking (you are not required to answer these types of questions under the law).
• Never submit to a chemical test, even if you are sober. In California, you have the right to refuse a chemical test.
• Do NOT refuse a field sobriety test. Doing so may result in additional charges against you.
• If you are placed under arrest, do not make any further statements to the police until you have an attorney present. Police vehicles are often outfitted with cameras and microphones and what you say can be used against you in a court of law.
• Do not ask if there is any way to “take care of this,” or “how we can sort this issue out now,” or any other suggestion of impropriety or even possibly bribery.

If a police officer believes you are trying to bribe him or her in any way, you may be charged with bribery, which is a felony that could result in prison time and substantial fines.

Contact an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney Today

If you were arrested and charged with a DUI and bribery, you should contact an experienced Fullerton DUI defense attorney immediately. Contact our legal team at The Law Offices of Christopher J. McCann at 888-360-4256 or online today for your free consultation.

We can help you build your case and help you with your defenses against a potential bribery charge.