DUIs on Memorial Day
As the long weekend for the Memorial Day holiday comes, police and highway patrol officers will look for people they believe are driving under the influence. Research and statistics show that Memorial Day weekend is one of the deadliest holidays.
The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day includes nine of the ten deadliest days for young drivers on U.S. highways. A person is four times more likely to die on the road on Memorial Day than on an average weekend.
Memorial Day is also the beginning of summer vacation for many people across the country. During Memorial Day weekend, cookouts, graduation parties, and trips are prevalent. These celebrations often have people drinking, and if you decide to drive afterward, you could get caught, arrested, and charged with a DUI.
What are DUI Checkpoints?
Police officers often set up DUI checkpoints to try and make the roads a bit safer around the holidays, like Memorial Day. DUI checkpoints are used by police to find drivers who might be driving under the influence. Sometimes, though, innocent drivers could get caught up in DUI checkpoints.
Just the smell of alcohol on someone’s breath is often enough to arrest a driver. If this occurs, it is essential to know your rights. Citizens are not required by law to do a field sobriety test and have the right to refuse to take a breathalyzer test. People who take a breathalyzer test may also request to take an independent blood test (blood tests are more accurate than breath tests).
Besides alcohol, DUIs can come from other manifestations. These include marijuana DUI, aggravated DUI, felony DUI, misdemeanor DUI, et cetera.
You can learn more about these charges by contact a DUI defense attorney.
What Happens After You’ve Been Arrested for DUI in Florida?
After spending time in jail and trying to get your car back after being arrested for a DUI, you may be tired and even anxious about what comes next.
The first thing you should do is get your license back. If you have never lost your license in Florida for a DUI, you might qualify to get an immediate hardship license at the DMV, but you only have ten days to apply for this from the day of your arrest.
Consequences of DUIs can range from fines and jail time, to getting a driver’s license suspended for years and not being able to obtain auto insurance. The severity of the consequences depends on the situation.
Avoid Getting a DUI During Your Memorial Day Activities
Before you choose to go out with friends and family for Memorial Weekend plans, decide if you will drink alcohol or remain sober. It is wise to plan for a sober driver to pick you up, like a family member or from a rideshare company like Uber or Lyft. In the event that you are arrested for drunk driving, reach out to the Umansky Law Firm for help.
