What to Do if You Get a DUI on St. Patrick's Day

Many people like to pretend they’re Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. Bars and restaurants often host many alcohol-fueled parties full of whiskey and green beer. With many parties around, the risk of drunk driving increases substantially. Nationally, on St. Patrick’s Day, 38% of drivers killed in motor vehicle accidents had a blood alcohol content higher than 0.08, and three-quarters of those drunk drivers had a blood alcohol content at least double that. Let's take a closer look at what to do if you get a DUI on St. Patrick's Day.

How Can I Avoid a St. Patrick’s Day DUI Arrest?

During this holiday, DUI checkpoints are likely to be set up on most roadways across the country, hoping to reduce the number of drunk drivers on the roads. Fortunately, avoiding a DUI is quite easy, especially if you plan ahead. Here are a few tips to help you get home safely and not end up facing DUI charges or even worse after a night out of celebrations.

• Have a designated driver. This is one of the easiest ways to avoid a DUI charge on St. Patrick’s Day or any other day. Driving after a few drinks is never a good idea as it puts you at the risk of being arrested. Also, it increases your chances of being involved in a car crash where you can get injured or cause injuries to other people. Having one sober person who is committed to the safety of the group is the best plan.
• Use rideshare apps. If you’ll be out drinking for the evening, leave your car at home and use rideshare apps, such as Uber or Lyft. Although these apps can be quite expensive, they're a lot cheaper than a DUI charge.
• Use public mass-transit. However, make sure you’re familiar with the transit system and its holiday route. Also, be sure to schedule the transit system before you use it. Because the last thing you want is to be drunk at 2 in the morning on a subway platform waiting for a subway which you aren’t sure will arrive or even have a route close to your home or home for the night.
• Use the available free resources. For example, AAA provides a free “Tipsy Tow” service on holidays, such as St. Patrick’s Day, which tows and offers a ride home to drunk drivers. 
• Look out for those around you. Watch out for your friends and others attending the same party or event as you. Make sure no one heads out on the road while intoxicated. Call a car for anyone who seems they have had too much to drink or unable to drive.

What Day Do Most DUI Arrests Occur?

The chances of being a victim of a DUI accident increase substantially when you’re traveling during the holidays. Thus, most DUI arrests occur during the holidays 

Christmas might be the most wonderful time of the year; however, for many, it can be the worst day. That’s because of the increase in DUI arrests and accidents. There are approximately 45 DUI accidents per day during the three-day Christmas holiday period. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 40% of traffic fatalities that happen between Christmas and New Year’s are caused by drunk drivers. With many Americans drinking during the holidays, the risk of DUI arrests and accidents are greater during these times.

If you or a loved one was involved in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you may seek compensation for your injuries and property damage. Contact Illinois’s leading DUI attorneys at Ktenas Law today and get yourself back on the road to recovery. 

What Should I Do If I Get a DUI on St. Patrick’s Day?

According to the United States Constitution, you have certain rights, regardless of where you’re. Thus, when you’re pulled over at a sobriety checkpoint, you don’t have to tell police officers anything except your name. You must be respectful; however, you’re within your rights to say nothing if the police ask you questions, such as “Have you been drinking today?”

The police officers must have probable cause to arrest you. Typically, this means they smell alcohol in your breath, or see you behaving as if you’re drunk. If you’re arrested, remember you don’t have to admit anything and you can call a qualified DUI lawyer to help you. 

Once you have been stopped at a sobriety checkpoint , you can refuse a breathalyzer or blood test. You have the right to refuse the test, but this could cause severe penalties, including loss of driving privileges on top of a DUI or DWI conviction.

Thus, if you or a loved one is facing a DUI charge because of holiday drinking, it’s essential you speak with an experienced DUI criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. An experienced DUI lawyer with a background in DUI cases will have sufficient knowledge and the right tools to sort out your situation. An attorney will work towards reducing the possible fines and jail time, and they’ll get you back on the road legally with your driving privileges in place.

At Ktenas Law, our defense team has decades of experience in these types of cases, and we always put our clients and their needs first. Call our criminal defense law firm today at (312) 756-8652 to schedule a free initial consultation.

Contact the Experienced DUI Lawyers at Ktenas Law for Legal Advice Today!

Here at Ktenas Law, we hope you have a fun and safe St. Patrick’s Day this year. However, if you get a DUI during St. Patrick’s Day or any other day, consider your right to legal representation and consult with an experienced DUI criminal defense attorney who can help you through the legal process.

We have extensive experience defending DUI charges, underage drinking and driving, drug crime, drug possession, public intoxication, as well as other criminal and traffic violation-related matters in the Illinois court system. The stakes are too high to opt to fight any of these charges on your own--contact our law firm to discuss your situation.

Call (312) 756-8652 or chat with us online to schedule your no-cost consultation with an experienced DUI criminal defense lawyer in Chicago.