Like most people across the country, you may be looking forward to celebrating the upcoming Fourth of July holiday. At the law offices of Kalamarides & Lambert, we want you and other Alaska residents to make it home safely after the festivities, as well as to avoid drunk driving consequences.
You may already realize that law enforcement considers Independence Day to be a peak time for drinking and driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 237 people were killed in drunk driving incidents over the 2017 Fourth of July holiday, making up 39% of all motor vehicle fatalities. Does this mean you should avoid drinking at all during the celebration? Of course not – however, you may take precautions that can keep you and others safe, as well as protect your driving record. These include the following:
- Designate a friend to stay sober and drive everyone home.
- Alternately, take a taxi or an Uber home.
- Decide on a reasonable amount to drink, and avoid getting “blackout drunk.”
- Bring non-alcoholic beverages to the festivities, as well.
- Consider holding your party at home and offer a safe place for your guests to sleep it off.
As you may know, getting a DUI comes with serious penalties, including fines and possible jail time. You may take the necessary precautions, but this does not always guarantee you will not be pulled over or charged with drunk driving, even if you are sober. Our criminal defense page explains that you are entitled to a fair and reasonable defense, regardless of the circumstances surrounding a criminal charge.