If you plan on spending New Year’s Eve out celebrating with friends or family or you will be hosting a party this year and plan on drinking, we have some very important tips for you on how to avoid a DWI charge. Because New Year’s Eve is a time that is recognized for having an increased amount of drunk drivers out on the road, police officers and state patrols will be out in full force looking to arrest anyone they suspect who has been drinking. And the reality is, no one wants to finish off the year with a DWI charge on their record.
So, in an effort to help you and those you care for avoid being hit with a serious offense such as a DWI, below are some helpful tips you can implement, whether you are going out or hosting your own New Year’s Eve party.
If you plan on going out, you should:
- Consider taking public transportation or scheduling a trip with Uber or Lyft to get to and from the place you are trying to go. Carfax suggests that you know your routes and phone numbers ahead of time so that when it comes time for you to get home, you aren’t fumbling through your phone and are able to quickly request your ride.
- Designate a driver. If you don’t want to rely on a rideshare company, you should consider designating someone who is willing to remain sober to drive you where you need to go. You can also ask someone you can trust to drop and pick you up if they don’t have plans of their own and aren’t going to be drinking.
If you plan on hosting your own party:
- Refrain from getting behind the wheel of your vehicle after having had a drink, even if it is just to go down the road to grab that one that last party supply. Many individuals will begin celebrating prior to their party starting and sometimes, they realize at the last minute that they need to grab one more item from the local grocer down the road. But rather than put yourself in a compromising situation like that, it is best to ask someone heading your way to pick it up for you or do without it. Not only is it more common for car wrecks to occur within a few miles of your home, but if you are slightly buzzed, you still risk being charged with DWI if an officer witnesses any signs of intoxication.
- Don’t let friends or family drive themselves home drunk. While it can be difficult to convince someone who believes they are capable of driving to give up their keys and call an Uber or even a cab, you will want to stand firm and help them avoid making a decision that could potentially change their lives forever.
- Invite friends or family to crash at your home. If someone is simply too drunk to drive home and you don’t feel comfortable with putting them in an Uber, consider letting them spend the night with you. This way, there is one less drunk driver out on the road and you know you won’t receive a call in the middle of the night from your friend or relative asking you to bail them out of jail.
For those who have already been charged with DWI in Baton Rouge or know someone who has, we recommend you contact our firm to schedule a consultation with one of our skilled DWI defense lawyers. It is essential that you are properly represented by an experienced lawyer who will protect your rights and your freedom and will fight to get your charges reduced or dismissed based on the circumstances surrounding the arrest.
To meet with a DWI lawyer to begin discussing how they can help you get through this tough and confusing time, contact Miller, Hampton & Hilgendorf at 225-343-2205.
You can reach Miller, Hampton & Hilgendorf at:
3960 Government Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
225-343-2205
