Are you one of many Texas residents who are excited to be gearing up for another holiday season?

Whether you’re among those who like to get a jump start on the holidays or tend to wait to the last minute, there are other issues that may capture your attention and cause stress as special occasions near the horizon. For instance, the last thing you need is to face DWI charges if a police officer pulls you over.

Learn all you can about field sobriety tests ahead of time

Just thinking about seeing police squad car lights flashing in your rear view mirror may be enough to make your blood pressure soar.

If it’s the first time an officer has ever stopped you on the road, you may be extremely nervous; if you happened to have had a glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage, you may be worried that events will not unfold in your favor. If a police officer asks you to exit your vehicle, you may want to keep the following tips in mind:

• Never lean on your vehicle or appear as though you are unable to stand erect when you step out of your car in compliance with a police officer’s instruction to do so. Now would be the time to be on top of your balance game, in case the officer asks you to perform field-sobriety tests.
• No matter how nervous you might be when you pull over, it is never a good idea to try to leave the scene unless the officer at hand has informed you that you are free to go.
• An officer may ask you to recite the alphabet. If you suffer from any type of chronic cognitive impairment (such as Lyme disease or repetitive concussion syndrome) this task may be easier said than done. Your inability to say the ABCs could lead to criminal charges for DWI.
• This is not the time to goof around. Antics of any kind could land you behind bars, rather than convince a police officer you are able to legally drive a car.

Many Texas motorists have successfully overcome the possibility of facing DWI charges by cooperating as best they can with police officers’ instructions.

An officer may dismiss you from the scene with a warning and no citation or arrest. Things don’t always pan out so well, however. If you do get arrested, you do not have to go it alone; in fact, you may request legal representation as soon as a law enforcement agent tells you to exit your vehicle.

An experienced attorney is often able to help a DWI defendant mitigate his or her circumstances.