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Published March 21, 2018

Do You Hate DUI Checkpoints? Here’s Why You Shouldn’t

Whenever a holiday that involves a lot of drinking rolls around, you can bet that there will be an increase in DUI checkpoints. With Saint Patrick’s Day right around the corner, you will definitely be seeing more of these checkpoints.

Most people do not like DUI checkpoints, and for obvious reasons. Checkpoints like these slow the flow of traffic and can cause gridlock. When a person has somewhere they want to be, getting stuck at a checkpoint can be understandably frustrating. However, while DUI checkpoints can be annoying, the police officers create them for a reason.

Roughly 800 people are injured by drunk driving accidents every single day, and that is without the excuse of a holiday to start drinking. In an effort to reduce the amount of accidents that could occur around a holiday, local police setup DUI checkpoints to catch people who are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Going through a checkpoint may be slow going, but it is incredibly easy if you have not been drinking. When you arrive at a checkpoint, an officer will wave you forward. The officer will then ask a few questions such as:

• Where are you going?
• Where are you coming from?
• Have you been drinking?

After all of the questions have been answered, if everything checks out, the officer will send you on your way. However, if the officer suspects that you have been drinking, they will ask you to pull over to the side where another officer will perform a more thorough investigation. If it is determined that you have been drinking, then you will be arrested for DUI.

Driving while under the influence of any substance is never a good idea. Substances like alcohol affect a person’s abilities to make good decisions and their control over their motor skills. Getting behind the wheel of a vehicle while drunk endangers the driver’s life, as well as the lives of every person that they pass on the road. DUI checkpoints help catch drunk drivers before they have a chance to hurt anyone, thereby making the roads safer for everyone around any day where people will be consuming more alcohol than usual.

Published January 11, 2018

Getting a Safe Ride Home in 2018

It is the start of a new year, and that means new laws will be going into effect. One such law is California State Assembly Bill 711. This new law will allow alcohol manufacturers and licensed sellers to provide customers with discounted or free transportation through a taxi or other ride sharing service.

The idea behind this new law is to try and reduce the amount of drunk driving accidents that can occur. This will provide people who have consumed alcohol a safe and convenient way to get home. With this new law, bars and alcohol manufacturers will be able to offer vouchers for free, or discounted rides through a local transport service. Examples of these services include taxis, Uber, and Lyft.

Before this law, alcohol manufacturers and providers were not allowed to provide their clients with any sort of reward or incentive to drink their product. Under this new law, these providers will be able to offer vouchers for free or discounted rides home, however, they cannot be offered in a way that forces customers to purchase their product.

California is not the first state to allow alcohol manufacturers to provide this kind of service. There are 44 other states that have enacted a similar law in an attempt to reduce the amount of drunk driving accidents that occur on their roads.

Published January 3, 2018

Partying too Hard

The official countdown to the New Year hasn’t started just quite yet, but your party planning for the New Year may have. Whether you plan on staying in, or going out, plan your New Year’s celebration wisely. This is the time of year where DUI checkpoints are around every corner, so don’t drive drunk, and remember your driver’s license.

On top of being responsible, try to be kind to your body as well. PreventionLane.org has several tips on how to be save when consuming alcohol. The first tip is to know your limit, and stick to it. Consuming too much alcohol can land you or a loved one in the emergency room with alcohol poisoning. When consuming high amounts of alcohol it is wise to keep your body hydrated with water and eat a well-balanced meal beforehand.

Prevention Lane also recommends slowing down and sipping your drinks. Along with sipping your drinks, it is also suggested that you alternate between alcohol and water. While you’re alternating between water and your drink, also try to space out the drinks. The faster you consume your drinks, the faster you will become intoxicated.

Most importantly, have a designated driver and friend. The more you drink the lower your ambitions and cognitive abilities get. Having a friend to help guide you and make safe decisions, can help you have a successful New Year Party.