NHTSA DUI Driving Cues

NHTSA

Under the NHTSA guidelines, the cues associated with DUI include:

• Cues related to problems in maintaining proper lane position:
  • Weaving
  • Weaving across lane lines
  • Straddling a lane line
  • Drifting
  • Swerving
  • Almost striking a vehicle or other object
  • Turning with a wide radius, or drifting during a curve.
• Cues related to speed and braking problems:
  • Stopping problems (too far, too short, too jerky)
  • Accelerating for no reason
  • Varying speed
  • Slow speed.
• Cues related to vigilance problems:
  • Driving without headlights at night
  • Failure to signal a turn or lane change, or Signaling inconsistently with actions
  • Driving in opposing lanes or the wrong way on a one-way street
  • Slow response to traffic signals
  • Slow or failure to respond to officer’s signals
  • Stopping in the lane for no apparent reason.
• Cues related to judgment problems:
  • Following too closely
  • Improper or unsafe lane change
  • Illegal or improper turn (too fast, jerky, sharp, etc.)
  • Driving on other than the designated roadway
  • Stopping inappropriately in response to an officer
  • Inappropriate or unusual behavior
  • Appearing to be impaired.

Most people arrested for DUI in Ventura County are stopped for reasons not listed in the NHTSA DUI cues. The reason for this is that speeding is the most common basis for a traffic stop, and it is not associated with Driving under the Influence. Many other people are pulled over for other reasons not associated with DUI, such as not having a front license plate, having expired registration tags, illegally tinted front windows, etc. Having an experienced Ventura County DUI attorney who knows how to fight the prosecution’s efforts to use your driving pattern against you is essential if you want to have any chance at winning your case.