The holiday season has become notorious for being one of the most dangerous times of the year on public roads and highways. In addition to the increase in traffic and congestion, this time of year also sees a significant spike in alcohol-related accidents, injuries, and deaths. In an effort to raise awareness and put an end to the cycle, lawmakers at the local, state, and federal level – and the President of the United States himself – have banded together to support National Impaired Driving Prevention Month.
Earlier this month, President Barack Obama officially declared December as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. As he did so, he pointed to the fact that drunk and drugged driving continues to claim thousands of lives each year, and sited a number of compelling statistics. He also reiterated that individuals have the responsibility of ensuring the safety on our roads, and that law enforcement agencies across the country will be focusing their efforts on aggressively enforcing DUI laws.
As they are with many other holidays closely associated with drinking, law enforcement agencies will be on high alert for impaired drivers throughout the month and through the New Year. What does this mean for local drivers in Orange County and California?
- Increased police presence at night and at locations known for alcohol-related incidents.
- More high visibility sobriety checkpoints operated by officers trained to recognize signs of driver impairment.
- Saturation patrols consisting of more officers focused on identifying and responding to incidents involving drunk or drugged drivers.
Given the circumstances, law enforcement officers are eager to stop and arrest suspected drunk drivers, and their efforts are notable in the increase in arrests that typically occurs during this time of year. While we always advocate staying safe, we also know that DUI arrests can happen to anyone and at any time. When this is the case, drivers should be fully apprised of their legal rights, politely decline questions from law enforcement, and exercise their right to speak with a lawyer.
At the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry, Inc., our DUI attorneys make themselves readily available to help those who have been arrested and charged with all types of driving under the influence offenses. Because time is a crucial factor in these cases – both for your criminal proceedings and your driver’s license – we advise that anyone who has been arrested reach out to skilled representation as soon as possible.
If you have questions following a DUI arrest in the Orange County, CA area, our firm is ready to help. Visit http://www.duiqueen.com/ for more information or call (877) DUI-QUEEN (877-384-7833) to speak with an attorney.
