Everyone likes to pretend they are Irish when St. Patrick’s Day comes around. Did you know St. Patrick’s Day is the fourth most popular drinking day of the year? Restaurants and bars often host large alcohol-fueled events full of green beer and whiskey. With so many of these parties taking place the number of people who are at risk of drunk driving increases. Nationwide, on St. Patrick’s Day, 38 percent of drivers killed in crashes had a blood alcohol limit higher than .08, and three-quarters of those were at least double that.
How to Avoid a St. Patrick’s Day DUI Arrest
On this holiday, DUI checkpoints are likely to be set up around Miami in hopes of lessening the number of drunk drivers on the streets. Luckily, avoiding a DUI is fairly easy with just a little bit of planning ahead. Here are a few tips for getting home safely and not ending up in the drunk tank or worse after a night out celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.
· Have a designated driver – This is really the easiest way to avoid a drunk driving charge on St. Patrick’s Day or any day. Deciding to drive after having a few drinks is never a good idea and puts you at risk for being arrested, but also increases your changes of hurting yourself or others. Having one sober person that’s committed to the safety of the group is always the best plan.
· Use a ride share app – If you know that you’ll be out drinking for the evening, start off on the right foot by leaving your car at home and using a ride share app like Lyft or Uber. Yes, sometimes these can get expensive, but it’s a lot cheaper than a DUI charge or worse.
· Use free resources that are available – AAA offers a free “Tipsy Tow” service on St. Patrick’s Day (and most major holidays) that provides drivers who have been drinking with a tow and ride home. Check out the list of holidays that are covered here.
· Watch out for those around you – Keep and eye on your friends and others attending the same event or party. Help to make sure that no one heads out on the road while impaired. Call a car for anyone who seems like they are unable to drive or have had too much to drink.
What to Do if You Get a DUI on St. Patrick’s Day
If you or someone you know find themselves arrested with a DUI charge due to holiday drinking, it’s imperative that the help of an experienced criminal justice attorney is acquired. A criminal justice attorney with a background in DUI cases will have the proper tools and knowledge to help sort out your individual situation. They will be able to work toward lowering possible fines and jail time and getting you back on the road legally with your license in place. Russell Spatz has over four decades of experience in these types of cases and always puts his clients and their needs first. Consider giving him a call today at 305-442-0200 to schedule a consultation to discuss your case.
References:
Sobering Up AdministratorSobering Up: A blog about drunk driving, et al. “Surprising Stats About St. Patrick’s Day & Drinking.” Sobering Up, 12 Nov. 2018, www.scramsystems.com/blog/2018/03/surprising-stats-st-patricks-day-drinking/.
“Tow To Go.” AAA, autoclubsouth.aaa.com/safety/tow_to_go.aspx.