The Pennsylvania State Police as well as local police forces throughout Montgomery County, PA will be on roving patrols throughout the region to catch drunk drivers this St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday, March 17, 2012. PA police also plan to set up DUI checkpoints in various spots throughout the area to catch drunk driving offenders.
For many, St. Patrick’s Day has become a popular night out to celebrate with friends and family. Bars and restaurants throughout Montgomery County, including Blue Bell, Skippack, North Wales and Ambler, are expected to be filled with people drinking green beer and celebrating the Irish. Unfortunately, St. Patrick’s Day also has a reputation for a large volume of drunk drivers, making the night very dangerous as well.
PA law enforcement will be aggressively targeting drunk drivers. PA police forces have been instructed to enforce the national “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving” campaign.
Driving a vehicle or operating a motorcycle while legally drunk in PA is simply not worth the risk. The consequences of drunk driving are serious and real. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma, financial costs and criminal penalties of a crash or an arrest for DUI are significant. Pennsylvania law mandates harsh penalties for those convicted of a DUI. Those convicted of DUI in PA risk jail time, the loss of their PA driver’s license, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses ranging from attorney fees, court costs, car towing and repairs, and lost wages due to time off from work.
Refusing to take a sobriety test in PA will result in the loss of your driver’s license as well as enhanced penalties. This is true if you’re pulled over by a PA police officer or if you’re stopped at a DUI checkpoint.
Whether meeting a few friends at a local pub or attending a local parade or party, if you plan on drinking alcohol this weekend in Montgomery County, PA, please don’t drive.
How to Prevent a DUI
There are a few easy steps that you can take to enjoy a safe and festive holiday without jeopardizing your life, the lives of others who may be on the road, and all other consequences of a PA DUI conviction. Montgomery County, PA law enforcement officials recommend the following steps for a safe St. Patrick’s Day:
- Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin;
- Designate a sober driver before you start drinking, and leave your car keys at home;
- If you see a drunk driver on the PA roads, don’t hesitate to contact your local law enforcement;
- If you know people who are about to drive or ride while drunk, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get where they are going safely.
What to Do if You are Arrested for DUI
If you or a loved one is arrested for DUI this weekend, you should contact an experienced PA DUI attorney as soon as possible. An experienced PA DUI attorney can show you what possible defense strategies are available to you, including the possibility of expungement of the DUI charge from your criminal record. Your DUI attorney should consider issues such as the legality of your traffic stop, whether the police had credible proof of your intoxication, and the accuracy of blood and/or breath tests.
