Phoenix DUI: No Fowl Play on Turkey Day

Phoenix DUI: No Fowl Play on Turkey Day

Cindy CastilloDUI, AZ Events

Phoenix DUI: No Fowl Play on Turkey Day
Thanksgiving is a joyous time to give thanks and focus on friends and family. The extended time off work comes as a huge relief to most, the anticipation of a savory Thanksgiving Dinner and the long weekend with our loved ones cannot come soon enough! Before cracking open your first beer, popping open the champagne or uncorking a bottle of wine to start the festivities, consider the safety issues surrounding Thanksgiving.

Deadliest Weekend of the Year

This holiday has been nicknamed the “Deadliest Weekend of the Year” by the National Safety Counsel and DUI Arrest Data Organization. Long commutes, celebratory drinking, extended time off work and day-long merriments are a recipe for disaster on Thanksgiving when combining alcohol with driving . That is one recipe you just don’t want to make this holiday season.

People often assume they can drink more on the holidays because it is time to relax. This is not often the case when you decide to hit the road after a day’s worth of heavy drinking. Congested roadways and impaired driving can lead to dangerous conditions, not just for you but for those around you. According to the Arizona Governor’s Office, 2,371 arrests were made on Thanksgiving in 2013. 1,098 of those arrested were charged with extreme DUI, 450 were charged with Aggravated DUI, and 934 were charged with DUI-Drugs. The average BAC of these drivers was 0.15%.

Traffic Collisions often fatal

Perhaps a more powerful statistic is that 15% of the traffic collisions that occurred last Thanksgiving resulted in fatalities. Therefore, officers are on high alert for drunk drivers during the holidays. Last year, 4,400 arrests were made on drivers who were suspected to be driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. As such, you can expect DUI task forces on the roads from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day.

Know your limits if you choose to drink alcohol during Thanksgiving. Make sure you drink enough water, switch from non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, and never drink on an empty stomach. Don’t ever get behind the wheel after you have been drinking. Midnight to 3 a.m. has the highest rate of fatal car accidents caused by drunk driving, so stay off the roads during these hours.

8 Helpful tips for travelling over Thanksgiving weekend:

  1.    Most importantly: don’t drink and drive.
  2.    If possible, try to leave on Tuesday and return either on Saturday or Monday when traffic is lighter and safer.
  3.    Give yourself plenty of time on the road and changing weather conditions. Know the route to your destination before you start driving, so you can avoid getting frustrated by Maps or GPS navigation systems. Be prepared for heavy traffic.
  4.    Don’t speed.
  5.    Don’t text and drive.
  6.    Get enough rest and don’t drive when you would normally be asleep.
  7.    Make sure children are secured in an approved child safety seat.
  8.    If you need to make a phone call, pull off the road and keep your call short.

Castillo Law Phoenix recommends planning ahead before you get behind the wheel after your Thanksgiving feast. If you have been drinking all day, you are not ok to drive. Designate a sober and responsible person to take you home, or make savvy a spare couch at your relative’s house and spend the night. Be wary about waking up early and heading on the road again because many people still have a high alcohol concentration the morning after a long day of drinking. Remember that sleeping in your car if under the influence can still get you arrested for a DUI. In Arizona, you can be arrested for being in actual physical control of a parked car while impaired by drugs or alcohol. For example, sitting behind the wheel of a parked car with keys in the ignition, even if you are sleeping, is sometimes all it takes.

If you are suspected of driving or in actual physical control while under the influence, remember your rights and always ask for an attorney.

6 tips if you are pulled over:

  1.    If requested, you are required to provide a driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance to officers. It is always wise to drive with these items in an easily accessible location.
  2.    You do not have to answer their questions such as; where are you going or coming from; have you been drinking tonight; how much have you had to drink. The investigating officers are gathering evidence against you.
  3.    Request to speak with an attorney before performing roadside field sobriety tests.
  4.    If you are in an accident and you are not injured, exit your vehicle as quickly as possible and remain on scene outside of the car.
  5.    Do not admit to driving or drinking.
  6.    If officers are probing ask if it is a criminal investigation or crash investigation.  If a criminal investigation is underway, ask to speak with an attorney.

Castillo Law Phoenix would like to wish you a happy and safe Thanksgiving! If you face any criminal charges, please consult an experienced attorney to defend your case. Castillo Law is available 24/7 for Free Consultation to discuss your case, at (480) 206-5204! Click here for our online contact form.

Please read our Hunting Article if you are planning on hunting this Thanksgiving. It includes valuable information about the safety precautions that everyone must adhere in order to maintain a safe hunting environment for humans and animals.