While we often celebrate the Fourth of July holiday with fireworks, food, and friends, it is really about celebrating our country’s independence. Yet, every year, hundreds of drivers put their freedom at risk by choosing to drink and drive. In fact, the Fourth of July weekend is the deadliest holiday for alcohol-related crashes.
To keep our roads safe, California law enforcement will be stepping up their efforts to arrest impaired drivers. You can expect that police will be conducting sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols, and other enforcement activities on roadways throughout Sonoma County, Marin County and throughout the North Bay.
A drunk driving arrest is simply not worth the risk. While you may not realize just how dangerous it is to drink and drive, the emotional distress and financial costs of a crash or a DUI arrest can still be significant. DUI offenders will face jail time, the suspension of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses.
Before you head out to celebrate this holiday weekend, please read the following tips for avoiding a DUI:
- Call a taxi, Uber, a limo or designate a sober driver. It’s that simple. If everyone followed this advice, we wouldn’t need to provide these additional tips.
- Be informed. You can find information about California DUI checkpoints on Facebook or, for specific information for Sonoma County, the Sonoma County DUI Checkpoints website. Click Here
- Stay calm. Clearly, this is easier said than done. A DUI checkpoint or DUI stop is nerve-wracking. To avoid the appearance of fumbling for your license and registration, it is important to make sure they are easily accessible.
- Be polite. Carefully roll down your window with the minimal amount of movement. Place your hands on the upper part of the steering wheel so that the cops can see your hands. Wait until asked to reach for your documents.
- Don’t get out of your vehicle unless you are told to do so.
- Don’t volunteer information. Resist the urge to talk your way out an arrest. This almost always does more harm than good.
- You are under no obligation to volunteer any information except to provide the officer with your name and to provide the officer with your license, registration and insurance.
- If the officer persists on asking you questions just request that the officer give you a breath test. If that does not work, invoke your right to remain silent. Tell the cop that you are not going to answer any questions until you speak to an attorney.
- You are under no legal obligation to perform any field sobriety test, however it is recommended that you make it very clear to the officer that you are willing to perform the breath test and/or take a blood test, whichever would give you the lowest blood alcohol reading. If you know that you have been ingesting illegal drugs then you may NOT want to take a blood test.
- You may want to delay the breath test depending upon the last time you had your last shots, beer and/or wine. That is because of the rising blood alcohol in your system that can work against you depending upon timing.
- We recommend that you should also refuse the Preliminary Alcohol Screening (PAS) Test. The PAS test is similar to the breathalyzer or breath test and is used in the field prior to arrest. Just politely ask the officer to administer the breath test skipping the sobriety field test and the PAS test.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REVIEW OUR OTHER DUI RELATED VIDEOS–CLICK HERE
If you’re arrested, submit to a breath test. At the police station, you will again be asked to submit to chemical testing. Under California’s implied consent law, you must submit to a breath or blood test. Failure to do so after you are arrested for a DUI will result in harsher penalties such as jail time and loss of your driver’s license for up to one year or more.
Finally, if you find yourself arrested for a DUI this Fourth of July weekend, it is imperative to contact an experienced DUI defense attorney as soon as possible. Fiumara & Milligan Law, PC are devoted to defending motorists who have been charged with a DUI in the North Bay.
The best way to stay out of trouble tonight is to NOT DRINK AND DRIVE. Call a cab. That will be safer and much cheaper than the $7,500 in DUI fines, fees and legal costs.
If you insist on drinking and driving and get stopped by police then keep your mouth shut, refuse the field sobriety test, and call us at 707-571-8600 OR 415-492-4507 if you get arrested.
Have a happy and safe 4th of July.
