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Watch Out for DUI Checkpoints and Patrols during Thanksgiving Holiday

By Joseph Low on November 21, 2012

Thanksgiving is coming up and with it, one of the biggest travel weeks of the year. People will be driving to and from Thanksgiving celebrations and events all week which puts law enforcement on edge. Wine, beer, and other alcoholic beverages are common at holiday celebrations and police officers will be on the lookout for potential drunk drivers, but trying to catch drivers who are under the influence of alcohol can lead police to sometimes target people who are not impaired.

As an experienced Beverly Hills DUI defense attorney, Joseph H. Low IV is aware of the common mistakes law enforcement can make during a DUI arrest, as well as the effective defenses that may be used to dismiss or reduce charges, but it is always best to avoid the arrest to begin with.

If you will be doing a lot of traveling during Thanksgiving week or later this holiday season, the following information and tips can help you avoid an unnecessary interruption of your celebrations:

  1. If you do drink, don’t drive, even if you are not impaired. A police officer may have a different opinion, and that’s the opinion that counts when it comes to DUI.
  2. If you are pulled over, stay calm. Signs of nervousness can be mistaken for intoxication, or guilt.
  3. Be aware of DUI arrest procedure and consequences. If you refuse to take a chemical test of your BAC (blood alcohol concentration) when asked, your driver’s license will be automatically suspended.
  4. Maintain the posted speed limit and do not perform any unsafe lane changes or other reckless-seeming maneuvers. During the holidays, most police officers will suspect DUI during the holidays before they even approach the driver side window.
  5. Know where you are going. Getting lost can result in unsafe or erratic driving that a police officer may suspect is caused by intoxication.

If you have been arrested for DUI, it does not mean you are guilty. With aggressive legal representation, you may be able to avoid both administrative and criminal penalties.

Posted in: DUI


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- M.D.