The following are a few simple steps you can follow to be safe when you consume alcohol and avoid putting yourself in a place where you may endanger others or be at risk for a DUI.
- It is better to have a plan in advance, always park in a place that you can park overnight and your vehicle will be safe should you need to get another ride home or you plan to drink or use any other drug or even if the remote possibility exists.
- Find friends, relatives, significant others or others you know would be willing to pick you up if you have been drinking. Also, leave enough money for cab fare in your car so you do not spend the money.
- Bicycles or walking are not good alternatives. Riding a bicycle is illegal while intoxicated and it is NOT safe to do so. Many people have died attempting this approach. Walking is also a bad idea. Not only can you be mugged, you do not want to cross streets while impair or others are possibly impaired. You are still likely to hurt yourself.
- NEVER assume that even if you were to get in an accident, medical care advancements will take care of you. Ten times as many people die from medical and hospital errors than DUIs every year according to the Centers for disease control and National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. Activities you also may engage in if you get a ride with another person, such as sexual activity, results in twice as many deaths as DUIs.
DUIs cause 13,000 deaths a year. Here are other leading causes of death of note:
- Heart disease: 631,636
- Suicide: 30,6223
- Incidents Involving Firearms 29,000
- Homicide: 20,308
- Sexual Behaviors: 20,000
- All Illicit Drug Use, Direct and Indirect 17,000
- If you are ever stuck, call anyone and everyone on your cellular phone and ask for help. You would be surprised at the number of people willing to help you.
- Ask the Bar or Nightclub manager for help, many times, they are more than happy to help you, even if you have no money and sometimes have Taxi vouchers to get you a free ride home. You can also call my office and we will see if we can help you. This is not a guarantee, but we would rather be put out at our expense than have your hire us. Although this may sound absurd, it is safer to call the police and ask for help. The worst that can happen is you being in the drunk tank overnight after being tested by the police. This is far safer than taking the risks and police also appreciate what you are doing and may work out other solutions for you.
- Driving is not safe as it is especially when all the bars close because you could encounter someone intoxicated while driving who could cause an accident. Furthermore, thousands of accidents happen every year involving people who are not drinking, let alone drinking. Furthermore, even if you do not cause an accident but are not the cause, you can still be arrested and prosecuted.
- The legal consequences in bad situations can land you in prison for years and even for a life sentence, and no one doing 15 to life or 25 to life is ever paroled in California. You can also lose your license for life.
- Although designated drivers are a great idea, you need a back-up plan because many designated drivers end up drinking.
- Lastly, nothing good can ever come from using intoxicants and driving, and there is no benefit. It is simply not worth it. Please take my advice. I prefer you being safe than hiring me.
These are simply a few of the steps you can follow in order to consume alcohol in a responsible manner. In the unfortunate event that you are charged with a DUI offense, the drunk driving attorneys at the California Legal Team are here to assist you with you case.
