Four Telltale Signs of Motorcycle DUI

As a motorcycle rider, you should know that you are subject to drunk-driving laws just like car drivers. This means a police officer will stop you if they suspect that you are driving under the influence (DUI). Here are some of the telltale signs that may make an officer suspect you are intoxicated.

Struggle to Dismount

An officer can wave you down for one reason or another; for example, they can stop you if they see you with a malfunctioning headlamp. How you dismount from the motorbike may make the officer suspect that you are drunk even if they didn't have that notion before. For example, struggling to dismount, difficulty in swinging the leg over the seat, and struggling to deploy the stand may signal that you are intoxicated.

Balance Problems

Experienced riders don't have a problem balancing on their bikes, especially if they are on flat ground. However, balancing on a motorcycle at a low speed is more difficult than doing the same at higher speeds. This means it requires a great deal of concentration and awareness to balance on a motorcycle at slow speeds, and intoxication interferes with concentration and sense of balance. Therefore, don't be surprised if you are suspected of DUI if you are struggling to balance on your bike.

Late Braking on a Curve

As a motorcycle rider, you know that if you are approaching a curve at high speeds, you need to slow down before reaching it so that you can take the turn safely. You need to use your best judgment when approaching a turn so that you start braking at the correct distance from it. In fact, it's not advisable to brake during the turn since that may cause your bike to run wide. Unfortunately, intoxicating drugs impair judgment, and they may make you misjudge the distance to the approaching turn. Therefore, when an officer sees you take a turn at high speed while drifting, they may suspect that you are intoxicated.

Improper Lean

Leaning on a motorcycle helps the rider to take a tight turn. This helps you to stay in your lane and avoid crashing into other road users; this is why mastering the lean is important for road safety. Unfortunately, even if you have mastered it, you will find it difficult to lean properly if you are intoxicated. Lean too much, and you may have trouble rebalancing your bike; lean too little and you may drift out of your lane; both scenarios may make an officer suspect that you are drunk.

The above signs may arouse suspicions of DUI, but they don't mean that you are guilty. Your guilt will be decided in court, where it's advisable to have an experienced DUI lawyer handle your defense.


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