Refusal of Chemical Testing Punishes Innocent Drivers

If you are arrested for driving under the influence based on a display of odd traffic habits, an intoxicated appearance, failure of field sobriety tests, and a breath test reading that exceeds the legal blood alcohol limit, you will be asked to submit to chemical testing by the arresting officer.  If you submit to this testing, you may or may not be able to prove that your blood alcohol level was within the legal limit.  However, refusing testing is grounds for the loss of your license and you may face other criminal penalties depending on what state you have been arrested in for driving under the influence.  In a nation that has daily concerns over civil rights and the protection of individual liberties, lawmakers are not concerned with the rights of the individual who has been arrested for driving under the influence and doesn’t want to submit to chemical testing.  Perhaps these individuals feel that chemical testing invades their privacy or they are concerned about the safety or cleanliness of the testing procedures.  This doesn’t matter to lawmakers who have made it illegal for you to refuse chemical testing if asked to submit by a law enforcement officer.  Depending on what state you are in, you will lose your driving privileges from anywhere from 90 days to one year or more.  You may also face criminal charges that can result in jail time, fines, mandatory alcohol education participation, and a criminal record that prevents you from obtaining employment or participating in certain activities.  If you’ve refused chemical testing, you’ll need a Los Angeles DUI attorney to help you fight any criminal charges you may face and make sure you are able to get your license back as soon as possible.