Winter holidays are quickly approaching; family outings, holiday parties, and Eggnog are in our near future. As joy and warmth spread upon the greater Los Angeles area, so does an increased risk of danger and consequences. The fact is, more drunk driving arrests and accidents occur between Thanksgiving and New Year's than the other designated "drinking" holidays (i.e. St. Patrick's Day; Cinco de Mayo; 4th of July.)
As it is, 10% of drivers on the road are reported to have consumed some sort of alcohol daily. In Los Angeles alone, that's nine-thousand people at risk! Statistically speaking, Thanksgiving is the largest holiday for DUI arrests. Not meant to be a scare-tactic, but here are the facts:
-1397 DUI arrests were reported for the 2009 holiday season
-251 of those DUI arrests were reported in Los Angeles
-2 in Los Angeles were fatal
As Los Angeles is not known for it's public transportation, there are still many options available. The Metro runs 24 hours a day, with connections to the Culver City and Santa Monica bus systems, that run until at least Midnight. And if a designated driver is not an option, a taxi driver is your best friend. As it may be sixty dollars from Burbank to West LA, it's petty cash in comparison to the thousand dollar fine you could receive if arrested for a DUI.
But, mistakes do happen, and in the event of one, you should be prepared and aware of your rights. Often times, mistakes are made: there is a DUI machine error; protocol error; or in the incident of samples (blood or urine) contamination error is possible. However it may be possible, accusing policemen of error without an attorney to validate such allegations is not in your best interests. Leave it to the professionals.
With 2/3 of all DUI cases being first time offenses, it is wise to hire an attorney that can be aggressive in helping you. California is unforgiving for first time offenses, and six months without a license is not an affordable luxury. A proper criminal law attorney will investigate your arrest, your options, and the least punishing of consequences.
As tempting as another one of Uncle Fred's Thanksgiving Special Drink may be, Grandma would much appreciate your presence for her Christmas Eggnog. So if you're going to drink, please be responsible. If you're going to drive, please be aware. If you're in trouble, please be wise and choose an experienced professional to help you.
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