3 Reasons People Go to Jail During Police Traffic Stops
Naturally, one of the most stressful parts of driving is seeing the lights of a squad car behind you. Often, they’re going after someone else, but they could also be initiating a traffic stop. There are many reasons a person could be pulled over by the police, but there can sometimes be issues where drivers might go to jail. Here are three common reasons this could happen.
Driving under the influence of alcohol is a common reason people go to jail when pulled over
According to Safe Home, one in 10 arrests happen as a result of the driver driving while intoxicated during a traffic stop. Of course, the police usually initiate the traffic stop because they notice signs of a drunk driver or because they have received reports of a specific vehicle driving recklessly.
Of course, after being pulled over by the police, the driver will be asked if they will submit to field sobriety testing to determine if they are impaired. Typically, failing any part of the field sobriety testing will result in the officer asking the driver to submit to a breathalyzer. A blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher results in a DUI in most states.
Driving under the influence of drugs during can cause an arrest during a traffic stop
Driving under the influence of drugs is a common reason the police could arrest a driver during a traffic stop. Of course, there are signs the police officer can look for. They could notice the smell of a drug or see smoke emanating from the vehicle. Typically, law enforcement agents only need probable cause to search a car for drugs.
Of course, the officer could ask the driver to submit to a drug test at the station. This would ultimately determine if they are driving under the influence of any drugs. Naturally, the police could arrest a driver if there are illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia visible in the vehicle during the traffic stop.
Evading the police
As stated, being pulled over by the police for a traffic stop can be stressful. However, one thing you should never do during a traffic stop is drive off. This is evading the police, and they will catch and arrest you. They can quickly call for other squad cars and eventually even set speed traps. In most cases, this offense is even worse than the reasons the police stopped in the first place.
There are many reasons a person could be arrested during a traffic stop. Naturally, the punishment for these crimes will differ from state to state.