An arrest for DUI can cost you significantly. Most states impose fines and fees, license suspension and higher insurance premiums as penalties for this crime. Receiving DUI charges can even affect your career.
Avoiding DUI charges is best accomplished through never drinking and driving, though this may not always be realistic. Therefore, the next best approach should be avoiding situations that might result in one.
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Key Points
- DUI arrests come with substantial financial and legal penalties, including fines, license suspension, and increased insurance premiums, making prevention crucial.
- Consuming alcohol on an empty stomach accelerates the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream, increasing the risk of impaired judgement and coordination, and potentially leading to DUI charges.
- When drinking socially, it’s important to arrange for a designated driver in advance or use ride-hailing services to ensure nobody drives under the influence, thereby reducing the risk of DUI and accidents.
- Laws regarding public drinking vary by state; however, even if permitted, it’s advised to have a designated driver to avoid potential DUI charges and ensure everyone’s safety.
- Legal services like MassTsang offer expert advice on navigating DUI charges and provide guidance on preventative measures, emphasising the importance of understanding local DUI laws and risks involved.
Drinking on an Empty Stomach
Drinking on an empty stomach has long been known to quickly raise your blood alcohol level, with alcohol passing quickly from stomach to small intestine and into bloodstream at a much quicker rate than when taken after meals. This magnifies all of the typical side effects associated with alcohol use such as inability to think clearly or coordinate your body movements.
Avoiding the adverse side effects of drinking on an empty stomach by eating prior to reaching for your drink, selecting lower-alcohol beverages and sipping your beverage slowly over a long period. Unfortunately, none of these measures will eliminate their influence when pulled over for DUI purposes.
Eating before drinking alcohol and never driving after imbibing is one way to mitigate risk and ensure safe driving practices. After all, these simple measures can save the difficulties that a DUI conviction can bring to your life.
Drinking with Friends
While it can be challenging to persuade an intoxicated friend of the dangers they are indulging in, you must do what you can to ensure their safety. If they appear unsafe to drive home alone, take their keys away and offer to pay for a taxi or ride-hailing service instead – taking this action may make them angry at first but will prove far less stressful than dealing with DUI/car accidents in the future.
Arranging for a designated driver beforehand will remove any doubt about who may or may not consume alcohol for the evening and ensure everyone stays sober – potentially protecting your friend from DUI charges as well as helping avoid accidents and injuries among fellow party-goers.
Drinking in Public can Result in DUI Charges
Many states have laws governing public drinking, excluding areas directly outside licensed premises and council-designated no alcohol zones. Proponents of drinking in public maintain that it reduces violence, overconsumption and normalizes attitudes surrounding alcohol consumption.
If you plan to attend a party or go out drinking, make sure that a designated driver is with you to keep yourself and others safe and avoid being pulled over and arrested for DUI.
Staying with friends or family after drinking alone is also recommended as this way you can rest safely without running the risk of driving while under the influence, which could result in costly fines and insurance premium increases.
Drinking on the Road
Driving while impaired is one of the leading causes of injuries and deaths in the US. To protect yourself, plan ahead, designate a driver, or remain at home when your alcohol intake becomes excessive.
Keep in mind that it takes at least an hour for each unit of alcohol you consume to leave your system, as well as to be effective. Furthermore, it may be wise to refrain from driving if you’ve been exposed to solvents such as lacquer cleaner, paint or gasoline which could impact breath testing devices’ accuracy.
If you suspect someone of being drunk, talk them out of driving or take away their keys. Additionally, offer to call for a taxi or ride-sharing service or drive them home yourself.
Drinking in a Car
Avoiding DUI charges requires abstaining from alcohol altogether, but that may not always be possible. Instead, ensure your driving is safe by having a designated sober driver in your car or using ride-hailing services or taxis.
Understanding your alcohol tolerance levels and managing them properly are also critical. For example, experts suggest men drink no more than two standard drinks every hour while women should limit themselves to one per hour.
Driving Under the Influence of Drugs
Driving under the influence of drugs can result in DUI charges or DWI ( depending on the jurisdiction. The term DUI is often associated solely with alcohol, but it also applies to impairment from illegal drugs, prescription medications, and even some over-the-counter drugs.
Law enforcement officers can administer field sobriety tests and may use drug recognition experts (DREs) to evaluate a driver’s level of impairment.
If you’re found to be driving impaired due to drugs, you could face similar legal penalties as you would for driving under the influence of alcohol, such as fines, license suspension, and potentially even imprisonment.
Open Containers of Alcohol
Remember that it is illegal to possess an open container of alcohol in the passenger area, even if you are not the driver. Doing so could result in a DUI charge should an officer believe you are impaired by alcohol or drugs.
In the end, understanding the law and potential dangers in-depth is essential to lowering your risk of being charged with DUI. MassTsang subsidiary dealing with DUI charges in Toronto and GTA also provides reliable legal advice and could guide you on how to prevent DUI meticulously. Seeking their assistance may be the best route to pursue to ensure a successful court trial.