The best way to avoid a drunk driving charge is to never drive impaired in the first place. However, people are sometimes unfairly charged with DUI and DWI for a variety of reasons. Anyone in New York facing drunk driving charges should be well aware of their rights to a vigorous defense in a court of law.
Local drivers needed to be particularly careful during the holidays, because New York State Police officials often increase patrols. In fact, a recent article said they were planning to combat drunk driving over Thanksgiving with special traffic enforcement efforts. The New York State Police superintendent said his force would be enhancing its standard road patrols with an additional police presence focusing on impaired driving, texting, phone use and aggressive driving behaviors.
Part of the state police plan for the holiday weekend was to use dedicated DWI roving patrols and sobriety checkpoints to counter drunk driving. The effort was intended to ensure troopers pull over drivers who were texting or talking on the phone while a vehicle was in operation.
The news report noted that troopers issued more than 4,300 speeding tickets and arrested 277 drivers for DWI over last year’s Thanksgiving holiday period. The Operation Hang-Up initiative in April led to more than 3,000 tickets being issued by troopers for phone and texting violations.
With the winter holiday season upon us, it’s important that all those who plan to drive during these times be aware of the likelihood that police have increased their presence on the roads. Should you end up being arrested for drunk driving, it is important to contact an attorney to make sure you fully understand your rights and options.
Source: LindenhurstPatch.com, “NYS Police Increases Patrols,” Nov. 21, 2012
