Posted on Saturday, December 14th, 2024 at 9:00 am
People love partying on the holidays, and few holidays in Cincinnati see as much partying as New Year’s Eve. New Year’s Eve is one of the year’s biggest celebrations and, incidentally, one of the biggest holidays for alcohol consumption. Alcohol sales spike more than 150 percent during New Year’s, and when there is a lot of drinking going on, DUI arrests and deaths skyrocket. New Year’s Eve DUI casess are distressingly common as people are out on the town ringing in the new year.
New Year’s Eve DUIs Rate
The last night of the year is one of the leading days for DUI (or OVI, as they’re called in Ohio) arrests. According to data from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, there were over 272 OVI-related arrests and seven traffic fatalities during the four-day 2023-2024 New Year’s holiday period. The number of OVI-related arrests increased by nearly a quarter (24.2 percent) from the 2022-2024 New Year’s holiday season.
Reasons People Get DUIs on New Year’s Eve
Despite the danger and high rate of accidents, many people decide to get behind the wheel after having a few drinks on New Year’s Eve. Many of these people end up with an OVI arrest for one reason or another.
Being Pulled Over
The most straightforward reason someone gets an OVI on New Year’s Eve is from the police pulling them over. Drunk drivers engage in erratic behaviors that can justify a law enforcement traffic stop, such as speeding, improperly changing lanes, and drifting. If a police officer pulls you over, they can ask you to submit to a breathalyzer or field sobriety test. If you blow over 0.08 percent or fail the sobriety test, they can arrest you and charge you with an OVI.
NYE OVI Checkpoints
Cincinnati police typically increase OVI checkpoint activity on nights when they expect there to be a high amount of drinking, especially around areas with historically high rates of traffic accidents and fatalities. The Supreme Court has ruled that OVI checkpoints are constitutional as long as departments announce their location ahead of time and police presence at the checkpoint is immediately apparent. During a checkpoint, officers randomly stop cars and conduct field sobriety tests to detect and arrest impaired drivers.
OVI Saturation Patrols
Cincinnati police also ramp up so-called OVI saturation patrols on nights of expected drinking activity. These patrols involve more officers on the road looking specifically for OVI violations. Police use OVI checkpoints and saturation patrols in tandem to heighten OVI enforcement and manage public risk.
Crashes
A smaller but still significant number of people get a DUI after they get into a crash. When police report to the scene of an accident, they may perform a chemical test on any involved parties to determine the presence of alcohol. In some cases, the police can even arrest you for a DUI several days after an accident if they have evidence you were driving intoxicated, such as blood tests or video evidence.
What Holiday Has the Most DUIs?
According to MoneyGeek, the single most deadly holiday for DUI fatalities is, perhaps unsurprisingly, New Year’s. This is based on analyzing crash data from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA). The likelihood of dying in a DUI-related accident on New Year’s is a staggering 89 percent higher than average. The following three biggest DUI holidays were Labor Day (53 percent), Independence Day (46 percent), and Memorial Day (45 percent).
Consequences of a New Year’s Eve DUI
Being charged with an OVI in Ohio is no laughing matter and can have far-reaching ramifications for your life. An OVI conviction can carry mandatory license suspension, criminal fines, and required substance treatment programs. Moreover, an OVI conviction can carry a prison sentence — even a first-time offense.
An OVI conviction can hurt your professional, financial, and social life. You could lose your job for getting a DUI, and a drunk driving conviction can make it harder to get a job in the future, especially jobs that involve driving. You may have difficulty finding housing, and a criminal conviction can destroy your relationship with family and friends.
So, you must effectively deal with an OVI charge to avoid the potentially disastrous consequences. A DUI attorney can build a defense against the prosecution to argue against your guilt or reduce the severity of your charges.
Avoiding an OVI on New Year’s Eve
The best way to manage an OVI charge is not to face one in the first place. Follow these tips to stay safe during the New Year’s holiday and avoid getting an OVI on your record and license.
Have a designated driver. Ensure at least one person in your group isn’t drinking for the night and can drive.
Have an emergency contact. If you don’t have a designated driver or get separated from them, have an emergency contact you can call for a ride.
Use rideshare apps. If you have a group going out for the evening, you can split a rideshare service, such as Uber or Lyft, to reach your destination.
Use public transportation. If available, try to plan your night around using public transportation. Cincinnati Metro typically offers increased scheduling during New Year’s holidays.
Limit your drinking. Excessive alcohol consumption impairs decision-making, so you may decide to get into your car after having too many. Limit your drinking to one drink per two hours to keep your decision-making faculties in check.
Talk to a Cincinnati OVI Defense Attorney Today
New Year’s Eve is a wonderful celebration, but a bad decision could lead to being arrested for operating a vehicle while impaired. If you are facing a New Year’s Eve DUI conviction, you need the services of an experienced defense attorney who can present the best possible case and minimize potential legal penalties. Moermond & Mulligan, LLC has been protecting the rights of the accused for 30 years and stands firm in its dedication to pursuing justice for our clients.
Contact Moermond & Mulligan, LLC online or call (513) 421-9790 today for a consultation with an OVI defense attorney in Cincinnati.
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