Police in California are tough on driving under the influence, or DUI, enforcement during major holidays like Christmas and New Year's Eve. They are vigilant during school breaks too. In fact, spring break is no exception. Since you are not interested in ruining your vacation with a DUI arrest, here are some tips to avoid incurring a DUI charge:
Throw All Open Bottles of Alcohol Away.
It is illegal to keep open containers of alcohol in your vehicle. It does not matter if you are drinking it or not. You could face criminal penalties you have an opened bottle of alcohol or a passenger is drinking liquor. Whenever you are taking alcohol to a party, keep it in the trunk of your vehicle.
Avoid Drinking if Under 21 Years Old.
California has a zero tolerance for minors who drink. Anyone under the age of 21 years old is not allowed to have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.01 percent or higher. In other words, a driver under 21 years old cannot have any alcohol in his or her system and drive.
Make Plans to Avoid Drinking and Driving.
If you are going to party, make sure you plan ahead. This means that before leaving for the party, make sure you are able to get home. Text a friend or someone you know and ask for a ride home after the party has ended. You can also call a taxi. Preparing to drink without driving is the best way to avoid a DUI charge.
What You Do Not Want to do at a DUI checkpoint.
Police may choose to conduct multiple DUI checkpoints during spring break. If you are stopped at a sobriety checkpoint, you want to avoid these common mistakes made by drivers in the same position:
Do not talk back to the officer.
You always want to treat police with respect. Talking back to him or her may lead to an arrest for a different charge, obstruction of justice. Remember the same guideline applies to all your passengers too.
Avoid Driving Erratically.
Aggressive driving is considered probable cause for a DUI investigation. So driving in a safe manner is a way to avoid an arrest near a DUI checkpoint.
Do not complain
Many drivers believe that sobriety checkpoints infringe on their Constitutional rights. That does not mean that drivers should voice those opinions. Instead of complaining, talk to a lawyer. Complaining to a police officer will not help. It may even cause you to incur a criminal charge of obstruction of justice.
Did you receive a DUI during the holidays? Do you need legal help regarding a DUI charge resulting from going through a checkpoint? Contact the Law Offices of Jonathan Franklin. We know how to protect the rights of drivers and challenge any DUI charge.
