10 Things You Should Know About Mississippi DUI's-Day 1

Today’s post is the beginning of a 10 day series that will offer one informative Mississippi DUI tip each day. Be sure to check The Legal Perspective each day for new information regarding Mississippi DUI’s. This first tip of this series is:

1.Watch your mouth

One of the oldest police tricks in the book is to get you talking with the goal of building a case against you. Ultimately, they will do anything they can to get you talking – be your friend, be your enemy, ask you random questions. Often times, the police officer doesn’t even care what you are talking about, just that your mouth is opening and words are coming out. The reason they are doing this is obvious: the police officer knows that anything you say can be written down and used against you later. Also, they know the more you talk the more likely you are to say something that is damaging to you and helpful to them.

To debunk a common misconception- you do not have to talk to police officers when they pull you over. The silent treatment is well within your Constitutional rights. All you have to do is provide your driver’s license, insurance information, and registration information, nothing more. You don’t have to tell the officer where you’ve been or where you are going. You don’t have to tell him what your favorite color is and you don’t have to, and never should, tell an officer if you have been drinking. Why? Because he will use that answer against you later – to help bolster his claim that you were driving under the influence.

So, what should you say if you get pulled over by the police and they start asking you about how much you’ve had to drink? Simple. You just say “my attorney told me to never answer that question.” Period. Then you just be quiet and wait to see what happens. Of course, the result may be a trip to the station, but at least you have preserved your rights. No matter what happens, you have the right to remain silent and refrain from incriminating yourself in criminal acts – and the police can’t use that silence against you.

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for a new tip.

This article is not meant to be relied upon as legal advice. It is for informational purposes only. Before making decisions about Mississippi DUI you should consult a Mississippi DUI Attorney.