DWI Black and White Fever
If you have ever been followed by a police officer, you may have experienced “black and white fever.” This phenomenon occurs when you notice you are being followed by a police cruiser, which, in many areas, are painted black and white.As soon as you see the police cruiser behind you, you may start focusing your attention on the rearview mirror. If the officer continues to follow you, you may tense up and become worried, focusing more on your rearview mirror than the road. When you look back at the road, you may notice that you drifted, and must get back into the center of your lane.
This can lead to erratic driving, such as weaving and increasing or decreasing your speed. Unfortunately, these are also driving behaviors that drunk drivers exhibit, making it more likely that the officer will pull you over and begin a DWI investigation.
When the officer stops you, he or she probably has a preconceived notion that you are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. This may lead the officer to believe that your tired eyes are bloodshot, your nervous speech is slurred, and your pink complexion is flushed.
After deciding you are intoxicated, the officer will then ask you to perform a series of field sobriety tests. These tests are known for being difficult to perform even in the best conditions; however, the stress of being pulled over may make it even more difficult to concentrate and perform the test. Add this to the fact that the officer is scrutinizing your every move because he or she already believes you are drunk, and you will more than likely end up failing the field sobriety tests. Failing the test gives the officer probable cause to make a DWI arrest.
If convicted of DWI, penalties include jail time, probation, DUI School, community services, fines, and loss of driving privileges. That is a pretty steep price to pay just because you tensed up when you saw a police cruiser driving behind you.
If you have been charged with drunk driving and have concerns about DWI black and white fever, it is important to speak with an experienced defense lawyer as soon as possible.
