Posted on Saturday, December 7th, 2024 at 11:29 pm
hojojojo
The Christmas and holiday season is a time of grand celebration and revelry. When family and friends are in town, individuals might drink alcohol more than usual. And when alcohol consumption rises, so do DUI arrests and crashes. A Christmas and winter holiday DUI can damper your celebration and bring a new set of headaches to ring in the new year. So, it’s in your best interest to be smart and safe about drinking this Christmas season to avoid unnecessary legal trouble an OVI can bring.
Holiday OVI Statistics
DUIs, or OVIs as Ohio state law calls them, are a significant problem during the holiday season. According to the NHTSA, nearly 1,062 people died from drunk driving-related crashes during December across the US in a recent year.
Christmas is also a major day for OVI crashes and deaths. According to an article from Policygenius, Christmas is one of the worst holidays for DUIs, along with Labor Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Thanksgiving. In Ohio specifically, nearly 6 percent of all fatal DUI accidents occur during some holiday. Ohio is in the top ten states for fatal crashes involving alcohol over the holiday season.
Why Do DUIs Increase During the Holidays?
DUIs increase during the holidays for the simple reason that more people are celebrating and drinking more than average. Even people who do not regularly drink might imbibe more during the holiday season, and it can be difficult for people to know their limits. Events like company holiday parties involve high alcohol consumption, and some people will decide to get into their cars after drinking too much.
Christmas DUI Checkpoints
To combat drunk driving and keep the roads state, Cincinnati police often run sobriety checkpoints during the holiday season when they expect more people to be drinking. Typically, police place checkpoints near places that have a history of accidents, such as on highways and busy intersections.
If you are at a checkpoint, the police may choose your car randomly to perform a sobriety check. They may ask you to perform a breathalyzer or field sobriety test.
Saturation Patrols on the Road During Christmas and the Holidays
During the holiday season, more police patrols are also seen on the road. Saturation patrols put extra police presence on the streets to track drunk drivers. These patrols look specifically for signs of drunk driving, such as:
Wide radius turning
Following too close
Weaving
Straddling center lane
Braking irregularly
Inconsistent turning signals
Making illegal turns
Driving without headlights
Driving significantly below the speed limit
Driving on the wrong side of the road
Almost striking objects
Appearing impaired
What Should I Do If the Police Arrest Me for an OVI?
If the police pull you over for an OVI, the most important thing to do is not panic. The initial traffic stop will become a crucial piece of evidence for any potential case against you, so it’s crucial you don’t say or do anything that the prosecution can use against you.
The first thing to remember is to remain polite at all times. Provide all requested identification, but you do not have to answer any questions that could be evidence against you. You are within your legal right to refuse a breathalyzer and field sobriety test, but refusal does incur greater risk if you get a conviction.
You should also contact an OVI attorney as soon as you can. Even if you fail a field sobriety test or blow over the legal limit, there are still options for your defense. For example, your attorney might argue that the traffic stop was unlawful or that the test results are unreliable. The sooner you talk to an attorney, the sooner they can build a case to defend against and mitigate your charges.
What Happens If I Get a DUI?
If you get a DUI conviction, you will face a license suspension of a year minimum and a fine of potentially thousands of dollars. You can face a three-day mandatory jail sentence if it is your first offense. Insurance companies will also increase your premiums if you get a DUI, and you may have to miss work due to court-ordered education and substance treatment programs, which could cause employment issues.
Suffice it to say the consequences of a DUI can be severe. A DUI attorney can defend you from prosecution and help you avoid the worst consequences of getting an OVI. In some cases, they may be able to get the charges dismissed entirely.
Staying Safe on the Road During This Christmas and Holiday Season
Driving while out late during the Christmas and holiday season can be more dangerous, so make sure you safeguard yourself with these useful tips. You need to take steps to avoid drunk driving AND protect yourself from drunk drivers.
Assign a designated driver in your group who isn’t drinking and can drive for the night.
If everyone in your group drinks, make sure you have a ride to call at the night’s end or use rideshare apps to move around.
If you are hosting an event, gather everyone’s keys beforehand and prepare rides home so that no one drives drunk.
Always wear your seatbelt when out on the road. A seatbelt can prevent serious injuries after a crash due to a drunk driver.
Be alert when behind the wheel and give other drivers an extra berth, especially if they display erratic driving behavior.
Cincinnati OVI Defense Attorney
Christmas and the winter holidays are magical for some, but the celebration can fall flat if you or a loved one gets a DUI. If you are facing a DUI conviction, the attorneys at Moermond & Mulligan, LLC can provide assistance. We have 30 years of experience defending Cincinnati drivers from DUI charges and will stand firm in protecting their rights.
Contact us online, or call today at (513) 421-9790 for a free consultation with an OVI attorney in Cincinnati.
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