The time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day is an exciting period filled with friends, family, and festivities of all varieties. It is very common for people to travel long distances to spend time with their family to celebrate the holidays.
There is no denying the holiday season is a joyous time and that oftentimes reconnecting with old friends can lead to more parties and gatherings. Unfortunately as with any time of year where parties occur more frequently, the likelihood of drinking and driving also experiences an increase. Here are some facts about DUI’s and the Holiday Season that will serve you well as you try to stay safe this year.
Office parties, family gatherings, and everything in between are commonplace during this time of year. As with most adult parties, excessive drinking is highly likely at most holiday events, leading to a natural increase in drinking and driving. You may ask yourself, “How long after drinking can I drive?”
When you are in high spirits, it is easy to lose track of how much you have had to drink over the course of an evening. People who do not usually partake might feel the need to since they are at a special occasion or around friends they haven’t seen in a while. For a multitude of reasons, the holiday season always brings with it a dramatic increase in drinking and driving.
There are certain times of year where drinking and driving occur more frequently, and law enforcement prepares for each one of them. Driving checkpoints, increased patrol units, and more PSA’s are likely to take place during the holiday season. With the historically higher numbers of DUI’s this time of year, local authorities are sure to keep a keener eye out for impaired drivers.
The best way to avoid a DUI during the holidays (or any time of year) is to simply refrain from driving if you have had too much to drink. In the event you are charged with a DUI over the holidays, do not hesitate to contact the DUI attorneys at Hagar and Phillips.
It’s true that local police will increase patrol units and checkpoints during the holidays; that is no secret. They will even run commercials informing the public of the increased police presence during this time. It is important to remember that their job is to keep the peace and ensure every citizen’s safety, which requires keeping drunk drivers off of the roads.
There are plenty of options out there for you to get home safely and without putting anyone else’s life in danger. It’s best to have your options planned out in advance in the event that you end up too intoxicated to drive home. Cab companies, ride sharing services like Uber and Lyft, and a designated driver are all great ways to avoid the perils of a DUI.
If you find yourself facing a DUI charge this holiday season, give the Lebanon TN attorneys at Hagar and Phillips a call immediately at 615-784-4588 so our legal team can get started right away.