From Halloween and Thanksgiving to Christmas and New Year’s Day, the fall and winter season consists of many holidays that bring people together, whether they travel to another town or state or host festive gatherings with family and friends. However, many holiday events involve alcohol consumption, which is why there is a spike in drunk driving accidents and fatalities during the last few months of the year.
In order to keep the roads safe during the holidays, police departments throughout South Carolina and other states will increase the number of officers patrolling the streets and conduct more sobriety checkpoints to arrest anyone suspected of drunk or drugged driving. So, if you decide to drive home after a few drinks, the odds of getting arrested for a DUI significantly increase.
To avoid spending the holiday season behind bars, here are five tips you can follow to avoid a DUI:
Get a ride from Uber or Lyft – Whether you need a ride home after a night out or a ride to the airport to catch a flight, ridesharing services such as Uber or Lyft have become a popular alternative to driving. All you must do is request a ride from your phone and a driver will pick you up in a few minutes. Remember, price surging may apply during the holiday season, so be wary of increased prices.
Call someone to pick you up – A cheaper alternative is to have a designated driver take you home, whether it is someone who is attending the same event as you or someone who promised you to pick you up when you’re ready to leave.
Avoid drinking – While it is obvious not drinking means you won’t have to worry about a DUI, you could also help someone out by being their designated driver for the evening.
Spend the night somewhere close to the event – If you must attend an event that is far from your home, either book a room at a hotel or a motel or ask a friend who lives close to the venue if you could spend the night.
Be the host – If you are the party host, you do not have to worry about leaving your home. Be sure that all your guests have already made ride arrangements or make room for people to sleep over.
If you were recently arrested for a DUI in Lexington or Columbia, let the Law Office of James R. Snell, Jr., LLC defend you against serious charges. Since 2004, our firm has helped many clients facing DUI charges to obtain the most favorable results in their cases.
To schedule a same-day consultation, contact us today at (803) 359-3301 to discuss your case with our legal team.