Avoid a Maryland DUI Arrest this St. Patrick's Day

           With St. Patrick’s Day coming up tomorrow, Portner & Shure wanted to remind partygoers who drove to their destination to avoid drinking and driving.  While the holiday this year falls during the week, several students are enjoying Spring Break and are expected to fully enjoy the holiday.  Drivers should be aware that St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday associated with drinking alcohol, and each year several arrests are made for suspicion of drinking and driving.  Last year, around 20,000 people were arrested during the holiday period.  A large number of police officers, more so this year than last, will be out looking for any sign of someone driving under the influence of alcohol and will not hesitate to pull you over.  Several police sobriety checkpoints will be in place throughout Maryland, especially in Baltimore City.  With pub crawls abound and hard to pass up drink specials, people are sure to drink past their limit.  Portner & Shure wants to help you avoid a DUI arrest this St. Patrick’s Day with the following tips:

1.      Most importantly, if you drove to your bar destination or other event place and are drinking alcohol, do not drive home or to your next destination.  The best option is to call a cab, Uber, or Lyft to transport you safely.  Another option is to have a designated driver who plans on not consuming alcohol.

2.      If you do drink, limit the number of drinks you consume.  People tend to make unwise decisions, such as drinking and driving, when they drink too much alcohol.  If you plan on drinking on St. Patrick’s Day, pace yourself and know your limit.

3.     Make a plan in advance to assure you have a fun, but safe day.  Whether your plans include taking a cab, Uber, or Lyft to reach your destination or staying with a friend to avoid driving at all, it is important to make a plan to avoid drinking and driving.

4.      Remember to eat before drinking alcohol.  The more food you eat, the less room there is for alcohol in your stomach.  Food also helps to soak up the alcohol to minimize its effects on the body.

5.      Just be smart.  Heavy amounts of alcohol can negatively affect a person’s judgment and can lead to DUIs, or even worse, a deadly car accident caused by drunk driver.  Let’s make sure everyone stays safe this St. Patrick’s Day.

             If you have been arrested for a DUI/DWI it is important that you consult an experienced Maryland DUI attorney immediately because DUI is a criminal offense and carries potentially severe penalties.  An experienced attorney can guide you through the court process and find any possible defenses that can either mitigate the penalties in the case, or in some instances, lead to an acquittal or dismissal. 

             If you or a family member has been charged with DUI or DWI in Maryland and would like a free legal consultation or if you would like more information on DUI or DWI please feel free to contact our office at (301) 854-9000 or visit us on the web at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Criminal-Defense/DWI-DUI/