Say No to a New Year DUI

By San Diego Attorney on January 10, 2019

In 2015, 69 people were arrested for drunk driving in San Diego County alone during New Year’s Eve and the following Sunday morning. In total, California Highway Patrol arrested over 1,000 people on freeways and local streets during peak hours on New Year’s Eve, from 6:00 p.m. Wednesday to 6:00 a.m. the following Sunday.

Not only is the arrival of the New Year a big drinking occasion, but police are also creating more checkpoints to catch intoxicated drivers. If you were arrested in a checkpoint, you should hire an experienced SD criminal defense attorney at jD LAW, P.C.

How to Avoid a DUI

The best way to avoid a DUI is to drink no alcohol at all. If you do imbibe, you can take public transportation, call a taxi, or use a ridesharing service such as Lyft or Uber. Another way to avoid a DUI charge is to nominate a designated driver who will not drink during the festivities and ensure everyone has a ride home.

There are several breathalyzer apps for smartphones, such as BACtrack, Breathalyzer, and Breathalyzer Cautoh. These apps will take a sample of breath and analyze your BAC content before displaying it on a screen. Your blood alcohol content can also be calculated based on your weight, how many drinks you have had, and the type of drinks. However, you cannot completely rely on these apps, and should play it safe rather than sorry.

In addition, when you are driving home, be particularly careful and obey all traffic laws. When police officers see people driving erratically or recklessly, they may pull them over and charge them with DUI even if they have not been drinking. While this is unfair, the best way to beat a DUI charge is to not get charged at all.

How an Attorney Can Help

There are instances in which you have done everything you can to avoid a DUI but end up being arrested anyway. Perhaps you did not realize how much you had to drink, or maybe there were other factors that unknowingly increased your blood alcohol content. Mouthwash, for example, has alcohol in it and using it before (or after) having one drink can skew BAC readings.

When you are charged with driving under the influence, the first thing you should do is speak to a lawyer. These charges can be difficult to beat, and the team at jD LAW, P.C., is familiar with the San Diego courts system. Throughout the arrest process, the required hearings, and the trial if there is one, our San Diego DUI attorneys can guide you through each stage.

We know your rights, including the right to refuse field sobriety tests and the right to have a Miranda warning read to you. If any of these rights were not upheld, it could destroy the prosecution’s case, resulting in your case getting dismissed.

We also understand the many defenses against DUI charges. Being arrested for a DUI can seem hopeless, but there are ways to minimize sentences and reduce the negative financial and legal impact of the arrest. We have helped many clients do this, and we want to help you.

San Diego DUIs Are Something We Know Well

The New Year is a festive time, often lasting until Lunar New Year in California. With everyone in a celebratory mood, it can be easy for drivers to get carried away and have too much to drink before getting behind the wheel.

If you were arrested for DUI, this crime carries real and serious consequences that can last a long time. jD LAW, P.C., will work hard to help you beat the charges and regain your freedom. We offer a special deal for first-time misdemeanor DUI cases—$3,000 for a one-time payment, and $3,500 in two installments of $1,750. But we can be flexible if you need more time to pay for your defense.

For a free consultation today, call (760) 630-2000.