If I was sitting in my own car drinking beer in the driveway at my house, can I get arrested for DUI?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

If I was sitting in my own car drinking beer in the driveway at my house, can I get arrested for DUI?

Asked on November 25, 2015 under Criminal Law, South Carolina

Answers:

M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 8 years ago | Contributor

Yes you can be arrested for a DUI even if you are not actually driving at the time. Legally, the police do not have to actually observe you behind the wheel of a moving vehicle; all that is needed is evidence of driving. The fact you were in your driveway could argually be evidence that you had just pulled in (or were going to go back on the road0 after drinking, especially if you had the keys to the car in your possession and/or were sitting behind the wheel. This would have all been legally sufficient to demonstrate that you exerted control over the car. Additionally, I don't know what, if any, tests were administered to you at the scene (breathalyzer, blood, field sobriety) which would establish that you exerted control over the car at a time when you were legally intoxicated.
That having been said, this does not mean that you don't have legal grounds on which to fight the charge.  Defenses can be enlisted which could result in getting the charge dismissed or at least reduced.  At this point you need to consult directly with an attorney that handles drunk driving cases. Since a DUI triggers both civil and criminal cases, you should have legal representation.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption