On New Year’s Eve, Americans across the nation gather with friends and family in order to honor the passing of another year and to welcome in a new one. New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day can be a time for celebration and a time for renewal. However, for those Americans who get arrested because law enforcement officers suspect that they have been driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the New Year ceases to be cause for celebration.
In order to avoid being arrested on DUI charges in the wee hours of the morning on New Year’s Day, please think ahead. The only way to completely avoid being charged with a DUI is to avoid drinking while you are out celebrating. Embracing any other approach to the evening may result in challenging consequences. Thankfully, you are far more likely to arrive home safe and sound, even if you drink, if you approach New Year’s Eve in intelligent ways.
For example, it is important that you trust that your designated driver will not drink and will not leave you stranded without a ride home. Too often, individuals find themselves stuck without a designated driver because their DD has either opted to drink anyway or has left without their passengers. If you trust your designated driver, you will be less likely to be stranded and ultimately tempted to drive home yourself.
Similarly, it is important that you stop drinking well in advance of going home if you are opting to drive yourself home after imbibing any alcohol on New Year’s Eve. Law enforcement patrols will be watching the roads in significant numbers on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, so do not risk getting behind the wheel unless you are absolutely sure that you are sober after drinking.
Source: WKBN.com, “How to get home safely on New Year’s without DUI,” Nathan Lehota, Dec. 30, 2015
