It’s estimated than over 200,000 people are arrested in California every year for driving under the influence. And if you’re under 21, you can be charged with as little as a .01 blood alcohol level, or BAC. That’s because lawmakers have come down hard on drunk driving, establishing harsher penalties even for folks who are technically first-time offenders.
As a result, DUI defense lawyers are experiencing some booming business in the Golden State. If you’re arrested for drunk driving, you could be facing fines of up to $1,000 — and that’s just what you’ll pay the court. Depending on the situation, you might even be faced with mandatory counseling or alcohol rehabilitation meetings, attended at your own expense. It helps to simply steer clear of potential DUI charges altogether.
Sure, it’s always been easier said than done. But with these three tips in mind, you’ll be wondering why you ever chanced it and drove in the first place.
Tip #1: Designate a driver at the beginning of the night.
In many friend circles, the “designated driver” really means who’s the least drunk at the end of the night. While that may work perfectly well inside your booze-swamped brain, to a sober person, it’s a recipe for disaster. Even the best criminal defense lawyer will have a hard time defending you if the three other people in your car were drunk as well. Pick a person to sit this round out, and do it early, before the bartender shouts for last call.
Tip #2: Keep a cab service’s number saved into your phone.
The good news? It’s 2014 now, which means we have cell phones to take care of all our responsibilities for us. The bad news? Our cell phones can’t drive us home. Find a local cab service and save the number in your phone for emergencies, or better yet, use your Google app to search for a local one while you’re out. With so many easy options, it’s simply irresponsible to drive home drunk in this day and age.
Tip #3: When things get serious, hide the keys.
Ultimately, every drinker is responsible for his or her own actions. But when the drinker gets drunk and can’t make logical choices (yet still insists on trying to), you may need to step in and take matters into your own hands. Stealing a pair of keys may save a life, no matter angry the person is at you at the time. And if it’s your keys? Give them to a trusted friend for safe keeping. A cab ride is always cheaper than a criminal defense lawyer.
For more information on how to deal with a DUI arrest, talk to a criminal defense lawyer or another legal professional today. Read more.
