4th of July: A Holiday for DUI and Hit-and-Run Crimes

Posted on: July 7, 2008 at 10:25 a.m.

The most obvious way to beat the possibility of criminal DUI and Hit & Run charges is simply not to get behind wheel if you have been drinking, especially at a time law enforcement sets up many sobriety checkpoints throughout Los Angeles County. Often Los Angeles Criminal Lawyers will counsel their clients to enter drug/alcohol programs, attend AA meetings, and seek therapy to fight and beat their addiction --- and thus to preclude any future arrests.

The Los Angeles Daily News reported that there were 26 driving deaths statewide over the first 60 hours of the 4th of July holiday, seven of which were in Los Angeles and Orange County. Over 1,500 people were arrested on drunken driving suspicion, 291 were in Los Angeles County and 60 of which were in Orange County. These were only arrests by the California Highway Patrol, other police agencies don't keep such numbers.

Holiday weekends often involving heavy partying, and whether it's 4th of July, Labor Day or New Year's Even, the CHP will always have a heightened presence to pull over potential DUI suspects. Avoiding DUI charges altogether on a holiday weekend can be difficult, especially if you've had one beer and are driving home. Courts will often shuffle DUI suspects through court without much time spent on due process. Here are some tips on how to avoid DUI charges for the rest of the summer, right on through Labor Day:

1. If at all possible, don't drive home. It's been proven time and again that breathalyzer tests and blood alcohol calculators are flawed, so even if you've only had one or two beers over an hour, the results of any test still may not prove your innocence.
2. Appoint a designated driver. This may be easier said than done, as one member of your party will have to volunteer not to drink at all.
3. If you feel you can pass the test, volunteer for a PAS Preliminary Alcohol Screening test; the police will often use this portable in-field machine to determine a driver's blood alcohol short of making an arrest and bringing the person to the police station.
4. If you are charged, contact an attorney right away who can challenge the results of any test and protect your rights. A DUI defense attorney can retest your blood sample, examine the validity of the breath testing equipment, and determine whether your traffic stop complied with Constitutional protections.

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4th of July: A Holiday for DUI and Hit-and-Run Crimes

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