How can I avoid being pulled over for a DUI during the holidays?
During the holidays, police officers are on high alert for drivers who have been drinking. Law enforcement officials recognize that certain holidays, like Cinco de Mayo and the Fourth of July, tend to involve the consumption of alcohol. As such, officers will often set up checkpoints or increase their presence on the roadways to catch intoxicated drivers. This past Cinco de Mayo, officers arrested 415 individuals across Arizona for drunk driving. The number of arrests had increased tremendously from 315 in 2018. With more holidays approaching, people around Arizona should take steps to prevent the possibility that they could end up behind bars for driving drunk.
Avoiding a DUI During the Holidays
There are steps you can take around the holidays to prevent ever facing the stress and fear of being arrested for a DUI. By taking these steps, you can enjoy the holidays as you desire, without fear of consequences.
- Have a plan: If you intend to drink away from home, you will want to make a plan so that you can get home safely without driving drunk. There are many options today to get you home, which could include calling an Uber, Lyft, taxi, or relying on a friend. With a plan in place, there is no reason for you to get behind the wheel while intoxicated.
- Ensure you are under the legal limit: If you insist on driving yourself home after a holiday event, be sure that you are under the legal limit so that no matter what, you could not be arrested for a DUI. Making sure you are under the legal limit may involve refraining from drinking entirely or drinking very little and waiting a period of time before driving. Remember that should you get into an accident, even if you are under the legal limit, you could be charged with a DUI if you have been drinking. You can consider downloading an app that will help you understand if you are intoxicated, such as DrinkTracker or BreathalEyes.
- Cooperate if you are stopped: If you are heading home from a holiday event and find yourself stopped either due to a routine stop or being pulled over, you will want to be polite and cooperate. You will need to comply with the officer’s requests for your license and registration. Remember your rights, however, and know that you can decline the breathalyzer or field sobriety testing.
Contact our Phoenix DUI lawyers as soon as possible if you have been arrested for a DUI in the state of Arizona. Your swift action could prove essential in helping to form a strong defense against the charges you face.