You may have heard that you should always drink coffee after drinking alcohol but before driving. The idea is that the coffee will either clear the body of any alcohol or negate the effects of drinking. However, this myth has been proven wrong time after time.
Here are several other myths about drinking and driving that can also lead to trouble:
Myth #1: You should tell the police you’re drunk
Truth: Drivers may want to exercise their right to plead the Fifth if the police ask them any questions during traffic stops. The Fifth Amendment protects people from self-incriminating comments, and you never want to admit to the police that you’ve been drinking (no matter how little) before driving – but you also cannot lie to an officer during an investigation.
Myth #2: You have to take standardized field sobriety tests
Truth: The police may ask drivers to perform standardized field sobriety tests, such as the horizontal gaze nystagmus, walk-and-turn or one-legged stand test. These tests intend to help police judge whether a driver is impaired. However, these tests are not the most accurate since bias or unrelated factors may sway an officer’s judgment. Submitting to one just gives the officer more opportunity to gather evidence against you.
Myth #3: You can suck on a penny to pass a breath test
Truth: A breath test evaluates a driver’s blood alcohol content by testing the alcohol on their breath. Many people will try to use a penny to trick the test, believing that the copper somehow skews the results – but there’s no science to back this up.
A DUI charge can greatly affect people’s lives. People who understand their rights during traffic stops may have a better chance of avoiding criminal charges in the first place – but anybody who is charged can benefit from experienced legal guidance.