All along the streets this week, restaurants boast special deals on cocktails and margaritas. All of America is excited about the delicious concoctions that will be for sale on the 5th of May, Cinco de Mayo. While there is nothing wrong with enjoying the night and having a few delicious beverages, the police are worried about a spike in drunk driving this Cinco de Mayo. All throughout the states, police are peppering the roads with DUI checkpoints which will incriminate the people who are driving with too much alcohol in their system.
In a report by the Kansas Department of Transportation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that Cinco de Mayo is a dangerous day out on the road. Between 1999 and 2004, 43 percent of all highway fatalities on May 5th and early on May 6th were the result of drunken driving collisions. Many of the drivers are young adults, who tend to drink too much at holiday celebrations like Cinco de Mayo. The Kansas Highway Patrol issued a warning to the drivers in their state, saying that those with a high BAC may spend the rest of their Cinco de Mayo celebration in jail if they are not careful.
In Los Angeles, California, the law enforcement is deploying DUI saturation patrols to test and arrest impaired drivers. This particular county is working with the Avoid the 100 Los Angeles County DUI Task Force, and hopes that their campaign will scare people into designating drivers or using public transportation. The state officials say that they are certain that the amount of drunk drivers on the road will rise as a result of the holiday, which often encourages drinking and partying. Already, statistics show that the most DUIs in any given week occur between the hours of late Saturday night and early Sunday morning. With Cinco de Mayo as another incentive to grab an intoxicating drink, the police know that they will have their hands full.
The Avoid the 100 suggests that drivers arrange rides home with friends or family if they plan to drink excessively on Cinco de Mayo. Party hosts tomorrow night should make sure to provide non-alcoholic drinks for designated drivers, so that they will not be tempted to indulge. The law enforcement also suggests that party hosts give some extra prize to designated drivers, so that they do not feel left out on a night of fun. Party hosts should also be cautious when serving drinks. Only give out one or two beverages to each guest per hour, so that they will be able to make rational decisions. If you are attending a Cinco de Mayo party, the law enforcement encourages you to cut back on the amount of drinks that you bring to your get-together, and bring more food instead.
The Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety says that there is no excuse for driving drunk, and suggests that the police will not relax their enforcements for a holiday. Admittedly, the consequences to a DUI may outweigh joy of a night of excessive partying. If you want to drink over the 0.08 percent limit, then call a friend or relative to come pick you up from your party. People who do decide to drive intoxicated will most likely be caught at one of the many DUI checkpoints, and may lose their licenses for years.
Along with this, DUIs include fines, and may even come with a stay in jail. It's not worth it to risk your reputation and comfort for a fun night out. Make sure to designate a driver before taking off for your Cinco de Mayo party. If you are caught at a DUI checkpoint, but were wrongly accused of a DUI, then contact an attorney immediately to discuss the issues. Often a DUI checkpoint can create false accusations that will need to be settled in court later on.