What signal indicates an officer may suspect a driver is under the influence?

Erratic or unsafe driving maneuvers are a clear indicator that an officer may suspect a driver is under the influence. This behavior could include swerving, abrupt lane changes, inconsistent speeds, or sudden stops, all of which can suggest that the driver is impaired and unable to operate the vehicle safely. Such driving patterns often raise red flags for law enforcement, prompting them to initiate a traffic stop to assess the driver’s condition further.

While significant delays in traffic could be a factor in some scenarios, they are not a direct indication of impairment. A well-maintained vehicle typically does not point towards any suspicion of intoxication, and while late-night driving can coincide with increased instances of DUI incidents, it alone is not sufficient evidence to suspect impairment without accompanying erratic behavior. Thus, the combination of unsafe driving maneuvers is a more definitive signal for law enforcement.