Many people know that they shouldn't drink and drive if they don't want to be charged with driving under the influence (DUI), but mere knowledge hasn't actually stopped people from drinking and driving. You need to be proactive if you want to avoid DUI arrests, especially during the holiday season when people let loose and celebrate with lots of alcohol. Here are some of the practical tips to help you avoid DUI:
Familiarize With Other States' DUI Laws
Many people spend their holidays outside their home states; they take skiing vacations or go home to see their families. If you will be out-of-state for the holidays, there is a chance that you will drive in a state whose DUI laws are slightly different from what you are used to. In that case, it pays to familiarize with that state's DUI laws.
For example, you can get arrested and charged with DUI in some states even if you aren't actually driving. In such states, parking by the road while intoxicated may prevent road crashes, but not DUI arrests. Then there are states such as Arizona and Georgia that have mandatory jail times for first-time offenders. You aren't likely to drink and drive if you know it can make you spend the holidays behind bars.
Make a Conscious Decision Not To Drink and Drive
Plan ahead on how you are going to move from place to place after taking some drinks. Not planning is one of the most common causes of driving while intoxicated. To avoid DUI, you need to plan how you are going to get from point A to B after you have taken a few drinks. For example, if you are going out for a drink, have a designated driver whom you know won't actually drink, plan to take Uber home, or leave your car at home.
Don't Rely On "Conventional Wisdom"
Lastly, you shouldn't rely on "conventional wisdom" on how to beat breathalyzers or how to drink without getting intoxicated. For example, conventional wisdom has it that you will be safe if you limit yourself to one standard drink per hour. However, this will not work for everybody; the level of blood alcohol content (BAC) depends on many different factors including age, fat content, type of food eaten, gender, overall health status, and many other things. You can't accurately measure all these things outside a lab, so you aren't likely to know whether you are within the safety limits because you have been spacing out your drinks. Other similar pieces of "wisdom" that may fail you including holding your breath just before taking the breathalyzer test and sucking on a penny during the test.
If you do end up in trouble this holiday season, the first thing you should do is contact a lawyer like those at the Law Offices of Daniel Aaronson.
