Holidays often involve gatherings and parties with family and friends. And, many of these get-togethers will serve alcoholic beverages. Whether it's due to the inability to secure a designated driver, the lack of money to secure a taxi cab, or the belief that one is ok to drive after having a few drinks, many drivers decide to get behind the wheel of a car. Partygoers, however, should beware. Holidays often bring an increase in DUI enforcement and arrests.
Halloween
Halloween is right around the corner, and becoming one of the most deadly holidays for those travelling on the roads. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 60 percent of nationwide traffic deaths that occurred on Halloween night in 2010 were attributed to a drunk or impaired driver. Some places, particularly in California, are taking extreme measures to crack down on DUI.
The Huntington Beach City Council is one such example. Last year, the council attempted to take DUI enforcement to unknown levels by proposing the option for police officials to post mug shots, and in some instances, names on Facebook of those arrested for DUI in California. The proposal was struck down for various reasons, but the excessive idea shows just how far some authorities are willing to go to deter DUI.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is also an upcoming holiday; it's less than a month away. Many people would likely guess that New Year's Eve ranks number one in auto accidents and fatalities, but they're wrong-it's actually Thanksgiving.
According to the California Highway Patrol, there were over 1400 arrests in California for drunk or impaired driving during the 2010 Thanksgiving holiday weekend. This was roughly 100 more arrests than in 2009. And, this year, there may be more.
New Year's Eve
In 2010, there were over 520 arrests across the state of California on New Year's Eve, according to the California Highway Patrol. Similar to Thanksgiving, this is an increase of almost 100 from 2009.
The 2010 increase from 2009 could be attributed to various DUI checkpoints that were set up around the state. The Los Angeles Police Department, for example, set up DUI checkpoints the entire Thanksgiving weekend. This year, it's likely that similar DUI checkpoints will be established which likely mean more DUI arrests.
Labor Day
Although statewide data hasn't been reported, the California Highway Patrol reports that there were in fact more DUIs over this past Labor Day weekend than last year. Specifically, there were over 200 DUI arrests in San Mateo and 258 DUI arrests in the Bay Area-both up from last year.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign as a way to help target DUIs within the state.
Tips for Drinkers: Designate a Driver, Keep Cab Numbers Handy
Based on previous years, it's likely that authorities will continue to beef up their efforts to crack down on drunk drivers during these holidays. However, in many cases, simple planning before the party begins can help alleviate problems in figuring out how to get home when the festivities have ended.
One such option may be to collaborate with a group of friends and draw straws to decide who will be the designated driver that night. The driver can be chosen prior to the beginning of the party so everyone will know who will be driving that night and who will be allowed to drink.
Keeping the number of a taxi or cab service handy prior to the start of the festivities can also help alleviate the headache of looking up the number or searching for it on a smartphone when intoxication levels have set in.
Tips for Party Throwers: Offer Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Party throwers serving alcohol are advised to remain cognizant of the need for attendees to find a ride home at the end of the night. Hosts should have plenty of non-alcoholic beverages available like soda, water or juice so guests won't feel obligated to only drink alcohol.
These options may seem straight forward, but after a night of drinking and partying, clouded vision tends to kick in. Some San Mateo DUI attorneys argue that it's important for partygoers to understand the repercussions, both direct and indirect, of DUI.
