Three Extra Incentives Not To Drink And Drive On Friday And Saturday Nights
Posted on: 3 December 2018
There's never a good time to get behind the wheel of your car after you've been drinking — but there are certain some times at which this decision is even worse of an idea. An arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol at any time can affect your life in a number of concerning ways, but people still frequently make the bad decision to drive after drinking. You hardly need an extra reason to avoid this fateful error, but here are three extra incentives that should keep you from drinking and driving on Friday and Saturday nights.
Your Risk Of An Arrest Is Often Higher
On Friday and Saturday nights, more people are out for dinner, visiting bars with friends, and attending other events at which alcohol is present. Local law enforcement knows that people are more apt to drink on Friday and Saturday nights than on a random Tuesday night, for example, and will frequently respond by having more DUI checkpoints set up around town. If you've ever encountered a random DUI checkpoint, there's a considerable chance that it was on a Friday or Saturday night. This means that if you make the bad decision of driving after you've been drinking, there's an elevated risk of getting caught.
You May Not Be Able To See A Judge Immediately
Another concern with a DUI charge on Friday or Saturday is that you won't be able to stand in front of a judge right away. In many jurisdictions, you'll need to make a brief court appearance if you want to be released on your own recognizance. A DUI on a weekday often results in you seeing a judge soon after you sober up, but this isn't typically the case with an arrest on Friday or Saturday. If you're arrested at these times, you'll likely have to wait until court sessions resume on Monday — and that means spending longer in custody than you would otherwise.
Sitting In Jail Won't Be Pleasant
It's never enjoyable to sit in a jail cell while you wait to see a judge or wait for someone to bail you out. However, many jails are busier on Friday and Saturday nights because of not only drinking and driving, but also other crimes — for example, assaults as a result of drinking excessively at bars. If you have to sit in jail for a few hours or longer, you likely don't want to do it on Friday or Saturday, when the jail may be packed and conditions may be highly unfavorable. If you've made the mistake of driving while drunk on Friday, Saturday, or any day of the week, contact a DUI attorney as soon as you can.
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