These tips can help you to avoid a holiday DUI.
This weekend, we celebrate the memory of those who have lost their lives defending the United States. Memorial Day weekend is also the unofficial start of summer. While it is still technically spring, this holiday weekend is often viewed as the start of summer cookouts, picnics and parties. With a three day weekend for most Americans, many of us view it as a great time to kick back with a few beers or cocktails and have a little fun.
While enjoying Memorial Day weekend with alcoholic beverages can be enjoyable, it can also be dangerous if not done responsibly. According to a Riverside DUI defense attorney, anytime that someone mixes alcohol (or drugs, including marijuana) with any type of motorized vehicle, including golf carts, boats, cars or trucks and even all terrain vehicles (ATVs), there is potential for disaster. Not only are you at risk of being arrested for a California driving under the influence (DUI) charge, but you could also cause a serious or fatal accident.
On holiday weekends, including over Memorial Day weekend, state and local police forces often increase their presence on local roads, highways and freeways. DUI checkpoints and a greater number of police patrols should be expected on the roads this coming weekend. This increases the likelihood that you will be pulled over if you are driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
If you plan to drink at a Memorial Day picnic or cookout, there are some ways that you can avoid being arrested for a DUI. The best course of action is to not drive at all if you know that you will be drinking. Ask a friend or family member to be your designated driver, or make arrangements to stay at the hosts’ home if you know that you will be drinking. Alternatively, keep the number of a cab service or have an app downloaded so that you can take an Uber or a Lyft home from the party. Remember: if you have any doubt about your ability to drive, do not take the risk. Even an expensive Uber or Lyft during surge pricing is still going to be less expensive than getting a DUI.
However, if you are stopped on suspicion of driving under the influence, remember that you do still have basic rights, such as the right to remain silent. While you do need to be polite and provide basic information, such as your license and registration, as a Riverside DUI defense attorney can explain, you do not need to answer questions such as where you are coming from or how much you had to drink. You also do not need to submit to a roadside breathalyzer (known as a preliminary alcohol screening, or PAS) unless you are under the age of 21 or are currently on DUI probation.
If you are arrested for a DUI this Memorial Day weekend, you will need an aggressive Riverside DUI defense attorney to represent you. Contact the Chambers Law Firm today at 714-760-4088 or dchambers@clfca.com to schedule a free initial consultation. We will stand by your side and help you achieve the best possible outcome for your case.
