Have you ever wondered what signs of intoxication signal police officers to pursue a DUI investigation? Attorney Jamie Spencer from Austin, Texas writes in his Texas DWI Defense blog that signs of intoxication include

• Odor of Alcohol: Strong, Moderate, Faint, None
• Eyes: Bloodshot, Watery, Glassy, Dilated, Constricted
• Speech: Mumbled, Slurred, Confused, Not Understandable, Mushmouthed, Stuttered, Fair, Good, Accent, Thick Tongued
• Balance: Wobbling, Falling, Swaying, Unsure, Needed Support
• Attitude: Excited, Hilarious, Talkative, Uncooperative, Profanity, Polite, Sleepy, Combative, Indifferent, Cooperative, Insulting, Cocky
• Walking/Turning: Falling, Swaying, Staggering, Stumbling

Why are these signs important? While the State (i.e. police officer) has a certain amount of leeway to investigate drivers, that leeway is not unlimited. If the officer does not have reasonable cause to suspect that a defendant is under the influence, the arrest and subsequent evidence gathering can be attacked and possibly excluded.

Jamie writes that he will explore each of these factors in subsequent posts on his blog.

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