‘Tis the season to gather with loved ones, give thanks and avoid driving while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances. This holiday season, whether you are roasting chestnuts over an open fire, helping out at the local soup kitchen, or trying to avoid awkward conversations with relatives you don’t talk to any other time of the year – it is imperative that you do not get behind the wheel of a car after you have had something to drink.
The holidays are a particularly hazardous time for driving while drunk. This is due to weather conditions being cold and icy, traveling distances to visit relatives, driving on streets that you are not as familiar with, and handling the ever-present stress of the holidays by drinking. Law enforcement knows all of this and will be out in full force with sobriety check points, with both marked and unmarked patrol cars, trying to keep the roads safe.
If you do find yourself having imbibed more than you should, please remember it is 2019 and there are apps (i.e. Uber, Lyft) that you can use that provide transportation. And, if it is December 24th, you might be able to even flag down a jolly old man in a sleigh for a ride home! If you do find yourself seeing red and blue lights, instead of red and green ones, in your rearview mirror, be respectful to law enforcement and then contact a criminal defense attorney who can protect your rights and try to get you off Santa’s naughty list.
If you find yourself arrested for DUI, you will receive paperwork in the mail from the Magisterial District Court informing you of your court date along with the Affidavit of Probable Cause alleging the facts and criminal activity for the underlying offenses you are facing. Your knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer will be able to ascertain what options you may have in order to potentially avoid jail time and minimize any driver license suspensions.
So, don’t drink and drive; but, if you find yourself being arrested for DUI, use that phone call to contact O’Donnell, Weiss & Mattei, P.C., your knowledgeable criminal defense lawyers, to protect your rights and salvage your holiday season.
DISCLAIMER: The contents of this blog are not legal advice, and are not to be used for that purpose. If you charged with a criminal offense, you should contact a lawyer immediately in the order to ensure that your rights are protected. Thomas P. McCabe, Esquire is a licensed Pennsylvania lawyer, and does not purport to comment on any other jurisdiction in the United States of America.