Gaslamp Quarter DUI Danger

By San Diego Attorney on February 28, 2018

The Gaslamp Quarter is known for many things, but particularly for its pub crawls. With exclusive drink specials, no cover charges, and VIP entry into four different bars, it is no wonder young people flock to this district every weekend looking for a good time. But for some, it does not take long for those good times to turn sour.

While a bus will take crawlers to and from the different pubs, you will still need to find a way to get home. Suddenly, it is time to go and you find yourself behind the wheel of your car. But the police might not agree with your assessment that you are “okay” to drive. You could end the night facing a DUI charge, and that could stick with you for the rest of your life. Be careful.

How to Avoid a DUI

There are two ways a person can definitely avoid a DUI: do not drink, or do not drive. Not drinking may be difficult when embarking on a pub crawl in the Gaslamp Quarter, however.

Getting a ride home after a night of drinking is easier than fighting a DUI charge, to be honest. Public transportation is available, with many stops in the Gaslamp Quarter. If the buses have stopped running, a taxi or an Uber is only a Smartphone click away.

Another good technique is to have a drink or two early in the evening, and then wait two hours before driving. If you and your friends are on a true Gaslamp pub crawl, this may mean that the designated driver will not be able to indulge at every bar, but it is always better to be safe than sorry.

What to Do After a DUI

Unfortunately, not everyone attending the pub crawl will follow these tips. If you are one of them, please understand the consequences of getting caught while perceived driving under the influence.

The penalties for DUI in San Diego include a suspension of your driver’s license, as well as fines and possible jail time. In addition, you may be put on probation and forced to attend a DUI program. When a person has been convicted of DUI, it can take years to get his or her life back on track. And even so, he or she will still have a DUI conviction—a criminal record for anyone to look up—after making one mistake.

Because of the long-term repercussions of a DUI, anyone facing the charge should contact a San Diego DUI attorney who can help tackle the charges head-on. While it may not seem feasible at the time, there are several defenses to DUI and an experienced attorney will know what they are, and how they may apply to any one case.

An attorney can also do more than provide a defense in court. He will be able to represent a client charged with a DUI at a DMV hearing, and guide the client every step of the way from arraignment to the sentencing hearing, if the case goes that far.

When to Call a DUI Lawyer

San Diego can be one of the most exciting places in the country, and there is no doubt that visitors and residents here know how to have fun. Every weekend, that can be found down in the Gaslamp Quarter on a pub crawl. If you plan to attend, please remember that safety should always be kept top of mind. Not just to keep everyone safe, but to ensure that the next several years of your life will not be ruined because of one DUI charge.

But if worse comes to worst, do not take a DUI charge lying down—it is too important to your future. Contact our San Diego DUI attorneys at JD Law as soon as possible. We have tried hundreds of cases, and gotten very good results for our clients. For a free consultation, please call (760) 630-2000 today.