All over America, men and women celebrated the recent 3-day weekend. Many people fired up the barbeque or jumped in their residential pools with friends to enjoy some summer fun. Yet when people get together for parties and sports games, there is often alcohol involved. Because of this, police officers all over the nation worked extra hard catching drunk drivers on the road this past Memorial Day.
For example, 219 DUI offenders were arrested in Orange County, California. The police force in this town set up DUI checkpoints and sent out roving patrols to pull over anyone who was driving recklessly. Last year, 201 offenders were caught on Memorial Day weekend, and a 14-year-old girl perished as a result of a DUI crash. Also last year, a 25-year-old man was killed when he was involved in a drunk driving traffic collision. Thankfully, the anti-DUI campaign this year helped this city, and many others, to avoid some dangerous and deathly accidents.
Among the many arrested suspects this Memorial Day weekend was the Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley. This is his second DUI in the past two months. Fairley was pulled over back in April for marijuana possession. This time, he was arrested shortly after 1 a.m. on May 29, 2012. The football player avoided the press by disconnecting his cell phone, and his agent did not answer any phone calls regarding the issue. From investigation, journalists were able to gather that Fairley was charged with a DUI and attempting to elude the police. He was also ticketed for reckless driving, having no proof of insurance with him in the car, and having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle. He posted a $1,750 bond and was released shortly after 9 a.m. on the same day.
In Massachusetts, the state government works hard to discourage any drinking at all on Memorial Day. The state drinking laws prohibit off-premises alcohol sales on many holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, the day after Christmas, and the last Monday in May (Memorial Day.) This is because it is dangerous when so many people are celebrating and then getting out on the road. As if it isn't already harmful to be driving on the highway with alcohol in your system, it is incredibly detrimental to be out on the road with dozens of other drunk drivers. A quick internet search proves that people love to drink on Memorial Day. In fact, it is easy to find lists of concoctions to make for Memorial Day or beers that celebrating people should try.
If you are going to drink on Memorial Day or any other holiday, make sure that you find a designated driver. That way even if you drink too much you will get home safe when a responsible, sober individual takes the wheel. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism says that people who do decide to drink on a holiday should never have more than one drink per hour. Make every other drink an alcoholic one, and eat food in between each alcoholic beverage. Make sure that your designated driver has had little or nothing to drink. Remember when you are celebrating that a foolish decision like driving drunk, could curb your ability to celebrate indefinitely. It is always best to be safer rather than sorry.
Many police were able to catch DUI suspects this Memorial Day, but some of their suspects might have been innocent. Often when police are so bent on finding the offenders, they may take anyone as a suspect and refuse to listen to your claims that you are blameless. Blood and breath tests can get mixed up, or a miscommunication may land you in jail. If you believe that you were falsely accused of a DUI, contact a DUI attorney right away. You will want someone to represent you in court with a tenacity and convincing manner. That way, you will have a better chance of being acquitted of the crimes you didn't commit.