While it hasn’t snowed much in Fort Collins this year, it doesn’t mean that the holidays aren’t fast approaching. With Christmas and New Years' right around the corner, it’s important that you take the necessary precautions to stay safe this holiday season. The holidays are some of the most popular times to get a DUI. With the influx of police out and about waiting to pull people over for driving erratically, it can be detrimental to your future if you’re pulled over for a DUI. By taking the time to avoid getting a DUI, you won’t have to start off the new year going to hearings and court. Take the time to stay safe this holiday season with ways to avoid a DUI from a DUI attorney.
At Roselle & Breitigam, P.C., one of our focus areas is DUIs and DWAIs. Getting arrested for a DUI or a DWAI can be one of the scariest and the most frustrating experiences. You may think you’re okay to get behind the wheel, but your blood alcohol content levels tell a different story. If you find yourself with a DUI or a DWAI this holiday season, then don’t hesitate to reach out to our DUI attorney. We want you to start the year off right, not with a DUI or a DWAI hanging over your head as you enter 2018. If you have any questions or concerns for a DUI attorney, then don’t hesitate to contact us.
METHODS TO AVOIDING A DUI THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
When it comes to a DUI, it can be 100 percent avoided if you take the right precautions. These methods will help you figure out what to do on the nights you go out to holiday parties and if you end up getting pulled over for a DUI. These methods may be troublesome, but when you get home safe and sound, you will be glad that you decided to make the right choice and keep passengers in your car, yourself, and people on the road safe. After all, a DUI is a way to prevent people from getting hurt behind the wheel and on the road. Even though a DUI on your driving record is a nuisance and will be detrimental to your future, you’ll be safe and an accident will not occur.
UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY
The first and foremost way of avoiding a DUI this season is to avoid getting behind the wheel in the first place. It’s a simple solution to the situation, but people tend to think they won’t get too drunk with friends and family and will be able to figure out how to get home when they get to that point. While it’s easy to just hop in your car, think before you act when you know there will be alcohol and recreational drugs at the party. From the moment you decide to leave the house, take an Uber, Lyft, or call a taxi.
By utilizing the technology that was created to avoid a DUI, you’ll do just that. You won’t worry about how you’ll get home or where your car is in the morning when you take the time to download a driving app to help you get home. While you may not want to pay the amount of money it takes to get home, it’s far less than the cost of court fees, fines, and a lawyer.
In addition, you can also rely on a friend who isn’t driving to help you get home. Remember, though, that a designated driver doesn’t mean they aren’t drinking or indulging in recreational drugs.
IF YOU DO DRIVE, STAY UNDER THE LEGAL LIMIT
If you need to drive the night you go to a party or you get stuck with being the designated driver, then stay under the limit. In the State of Colorado, this means that you’ll need to be under a .05 percent to avoid a DWAI. This is about the equivalent to one drink; however, it depends on sex, weight, height, and the amount of alcohol in a drink. For example, if you’re a female and you drink a PBR, then you’ll be just right for the night to stay under the legal limit. If you want to have more to drink than one beer, then consider not driving at all. In Colorado, you can get a DWAI between .05 and .08 percent and a DUI if you’re over .08. A DWAI is not a DUI, but you can be penalized in a similar manner. Remember, if you’re driving and want to have one drink, then drink a lot of water and make sure to eat, so your body can properly digest.
KNOW THE LAWS OF COLORADO
As we touched upon above, Colorado laws vary from other states when it comes to drinking laws. While the national blood alcohol content level is .08 percent, you can still get a DWAI if your blood alcohol content level is .05 percent. While it’s not a DUI, it can still bring serious repercussions to your future. In Colorado, there are also laws against driving while high on marijuana in comparison to other states where you can’t use recreational or medical marijuana at all. Take the time to learn the laws about DUIs, DWAIs, and marijuana usage before you decide to indulge this holiday season.
DON’T ARGUE WITH THE OFFICER
If you do get pulled over, then do not argue with the officer. While it may seem like a good idea to talk your way out of a DUI or a DWAI, it can actually cause harm to your case. The more you talk, a police officer might realize that you’re drunk. The more you try to argue with the police officer that you weren’t driving erratically or there’s no strange smell in your car, then you could be incriminating yourself a well as anger the officer, which can result in an arrest.
For more information on DUIs, DWAIs, and staying clear of an arrest, continue to read our blog.
