Some drivers are willing to risk driving under the influence of alcohol. In fact, according to Safe Home Research, nearly 23% of surveyed drivers in 2021 claimed to have driven drunk during the previous year. While some of these drivers make it home without incident, many others find themselves in handcuffs.
While you certainly are vulnerable to a DUI stop every time you drive with a blood alcohol concentration over the legal limit, you are more likely to find enhanced DUI enforcement at certain times.
When the bars close
Depending on where you drink, the last call might come at 1:00 or 2:00 a.m. If you have been drinking at a pub restaurant for a few hours prior to its closing, you are likely to have a BAC over the legal limit. Members of law enforcement know this, so they often increase patrols when bars close.
When people celebrate
It is not uncommon for individuals to celebrate holidays and other events by drinking alcohol. Therefore, you may encounter stepped-up enforcement around days when people tend to celebrate. Among others, these often include the following:
- Major sporting events
- Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve
- Patrick’s Day and Cinco de Mayo
- Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day
In addition to noticing more patrol cars on the road when people celebrate, you also may have an increased chance of driving into a sobriety checkpoint. At these checkpoints, officers stop a random sample of vehicles to determine whether their drivers might be under the influence.
Ultimately, regardless of when your DUI arrest happens, it is advisable to explore all your legal options as quickly as you can.