4 Tips to Avoid a Holiday DUI
‘Tis the season for holiday parties. However, there are not many things that put more of a damper on the holiday season than getting arrested for DUI.
It is important that we remind ourselves to plan ahead before attending events where alcohol will be served. That way, you can still have fun at the party and avoid getting arrested for drunk driving.
Steer Clear of a Holiday DUI
Here are a few helpful tips to help you avoid a holiday DUI:
- Get a designated driver. The best option is to always choose a designated driver that is not going to drink alcohol at all. If you are attending the event with your spouse or roommate that is an easy one. But if that’s not an option, you can always think about carpooling with some friends.
- Make overnight plans. Another good option is to make plans to stay at a friend’s home or reserve a hotel close to the event.
- Take a cab. You can always drive yourself to the event, leave your car there, and make plans to get a taxi home from the party and have a friend take you back to your car the next morning. Or, you could try Lyft, a new cab alternative in Nashville. Here’s a map of the coverage area in Nashville.
- Drink Responsibly. This is by far the worst choice, but it is often the choice that people make when attending holiday parties.
If you choose to drink responsibly, you certainly run the risk of being charged with a DUI. If there is alcohol on your breath and/or you admit to drinking alcohol, then chances are you are going to be asked to submit to a field sobriety test.
The field sobriety test is one of the toughest tests known to man. If impairment is suspected, you can bet that you will be asked to give a breath or blood test. Refuse that test and you are on your way to jail. Submit to the test and you may make your DUI case very difficult to defend.
Many think they are sober when their blood alcohol level is over the legal limit. Tennessee law does not require state prosecutors to prove that you are intoxicated, only that your blood alcohol level is .08 or greater. Many individuals can perform very well on field sobriety tests even when their blood alcohol level is over .08, meaning that while they may feel fine to drive, getting in their car may be a DUI waiting to happen.
If people stopped for a moment before getting in their car and considered how they would feel if a police car was immediately in their rear view mirror, they might think twice about getting in their car after drinking at a holiday party. We certainly hope that you do so you can enjoy a safe and happy holiday!
Image credit: Camille Iman