Halloween is on Saturday this year, which means you’ll have plenty of time to get dressed up before you head out to your favorite haunting grounds! However, be wary when imbibing that second cup of witches brew. A recent study, compiled and released by Denver-based Alcohol Monitoring Systems, suggests that drinking violations increase by 4 ½ times when Halloween occurs on a Saturday night.
The report cites the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which found that 43% of the traffic-related fatalities between 2009 and 2013 were a result of a drunk driving related crash. Additionally, more than a quarter of pedestrian fatalities involved a drunk driver.
As an OUI attorney in Maine for more than 10 years, I can tell you that most people who are arrested for OUI (Operating Under the Influence) and DUI (Driving Under the Influence) didn’t start out their night planning to break drunk driving laws. Maybe they felt fine to drive. Maybe they stayed a little later than they planned and had one extra drink. Maybe the night just got away from them and they made a really bad decision that would come to haunt them.
A good OUI attorney will always do their best to determine if there are mitigating factors that could reduce a sentence or even get a dismissal of a drunk driving charge. Of course, the best way to avoid the consequences brought about by a drunk driving arrest is to avoid drunk driving.
If you are planning on heading out for some Halloween merriment, have fun! If you want to avoid hiring a DUI lawyer on November 1st, consider the following tips for a safe Halloween:
- Have a designated driver. Yes, we’ve all heard this one, and it’s the most time-tested way to avoid drunk driving. Once you have determined who is the designated driver, stick to the plan. If the designated driver changes their mind…
- Call a taxi. Between the plethora of taxi companies and the proliferation of ride-share services like Uber, finding a safe ride home has never been easier. Many times, the price of a taxi is less than a round of drinks. Budget accordingly, and keep the roads safe.
- Don’t trust yourself to “sober up.” A glass of water at the end of the night does not make you a safe driver. If you are planning to drink, plan ahead on how you are going to get home. Having a few drinks can be fun, but just as it makes you more likely to show your friends how well you Whip and Nae Nae, it can also make you think you can drive home even when you are legally intoxicated.
- Ditch your car. Never feel like you have to drive home. If you are drunk, leave your car at your friend’s house or parked on the street. Municipal parking is free on Sunday, and it will give you an extra reason to get out of bed in the morning, wish you had consumed a little less the night before, and get started with your day.
- Buzzed driving is drunk driving. If you have to ask yourself whether or not you’re safe to drive, chances are you aren’t.
The period between Halloween and New Years sees an uptick in DUI arrests, largely because people venture out to socialize during the holidays. Now is the time to start practicing how to be safe, responsible and have fun. I wish you a Happy Halloween, and since I won’t be seeing you in Maine OUI court, I would like to remind you that I also practice in bankruptcy, civil litigation, family law, business disputes and real estate law.
—- posted by Attorney Benjamin P. Campo, Jr.