In our previous videos we talked about not answering the officers questions about not answering the officers questions regarding what youโve had to drink, where youโve been, and who you were with.
We had a video on the standard field sobriety test and what to do there and not to take them.
This video is regarding PBT (preliminary breath test). So what do you do at this stage of the game when the officer says please blow on my hand held preliminary breath test. If it was me I would politely and kindly refuse. I would say โno thank you.โ
The reason is because this is a civil infraction. It is against the law if you refuse the PBT but itโs a civil infraction. Itโs a fine. Itโs not a crime. Youโre not going to jail over it. Thereโs no points associated with it. Thereโs no restrictions on your driverโs license, so thereโs no real consequence other than a little bit of money at the end of the game.
So if youโve been drinking the PBT can be used to arrest you if it indicates youโve been drinking alcohol so I would refuse that. You have not told the officer youโve been drinking, just just refused to answer. You refused the standard sobriety test, and youโve refused the PBT.
So the officer still says โOk, youโre slurring your words, you smell like alcohol,โ and maybe thereโs some bad driving and the officer decides he has enough probable cause and is going to make an arrest.
Watch our next post to find out what to do when youโre asked to take the chemical test.