Driving while intoxicated (DWI) charges can be levied in the wake of a car crash or a traffic stop. Motorists who show signs of chemical intoxication or who fail breath tests are potentially at risk of an arrest.
Police officers have training that can help them identify signs of intoxication on the road. They constantly monitor motorists and may pull anyone over who seems to be under the influence. They may also request chemical tests from anyone involved in a motor vehicle collision.
There are certain times when local police departments place greater priority on drunk driving enforcement, including after major local events and on weekend nights. Major holidays frequently also see an increase in DWI enforcement and arrests.
Why are holidays a DWI enforcement priority?
Police departments often set enforcement priorities and work schedules based on statistics. Researchers have long known that major federal holidays tend to see a noteworthy increase in fatal drunk driving crashes.
New Year’s Day, for example, tends to be one of the deadliest days of the year for motorists and adult pedestrians. Everyone drinks a toast at midnight and then drives home afterward, and some of them have had too much to drink. Police officers watching for drunk drivers may suffer from confirmation bias, where they see signs of intoxication in drivers who are sober or who only had a single drink.
How can drivers protect themselves?
A DWI conviction can lead to jail time, fines, court costs and a driver’s license suspension. Those accused of a holiday DWI offense may have numerous defense options available to them. The best response largely depends on the circumstances.
Sometimes, police officers violate a person’s rights by conducting an inappropriate traffic stop. Other times, there could be a medical reason that a motorist failed a breath test. In cases where a straightforward defense strategy may not be the best option available, the criminal defense attorney could also negotiate a plea bargain.
Motorists facing holiday DWI charges need help understanding their rights and responding to the charges they face. The team at Scirocco Law can help defendants learn more about their options. Those facing DWI charges can get support by clicking here or calling 973-988-7635 to schedule a consultation with Scirocco Law.