Stepped up police patrols, increased traffic stops for even minor violations, and DUI sobriety checkpoints await drivers nationwide as they head into the Labor Day holiday period from late August until early September.
That’s when a coalition of public safety agencies around the United States mobilizes with the U.S. Department of Transportation to ramp up enforcement of drunk and drugged driving laws.
Authorities say that the Labor Day holiday is one of the most dangerous times of year to be on the road. Expect police on the streets this Labor Day holiday to take a zero-tolerance approach to drunk and drugged driving, even if you feel sober enough to drive.
Equally important is knowing your rights if the government does accuse you of imparied driving. While a mug shot and night in jail may be embarrassing, a DUI arrest does not make you a bad person, and it’s important to make the best decisions to protect yourself after your arrest.
Numbers you should know
Of the nearly 450 deadly car accidents that occurred across the country over Labor Day in 2018, well over a third of the drivers involved were legally drunk or impaired. One in four of those drivers had a blood alcohol concentration that was twice the legal limit.
As a result, police in Oklahoma carried out more than 600 DUI arrests during that period, and over 100 law enforcement agencies across the state participated in the Labor Day mobilization during 2019.
During the nationwide Labor Day initiative, known as “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” law enforcers pay greater attention to how drivers conduct themselves behind the wheel, add officers to high-traffic locations, stage sobriety checkpoints to ensnare unsuspecting drivers, and ramp up publicity campaigns that warn the public about the consequences of impaired driving.
Traffic safety experts call it “high-visibility” enforcement. For you, it could become the suspension of your driver’s license, a year in jail, and a $1,000 fine, all for a first-time DUI offense in Oklahoma. More severe DUI-related charges could lead to years of your life spent in prison.
What can I do if I do get a DUI?
You need to remember that a DUI arrest does not mean an automatic conviction, license revocation, or punishment. If you hire the Tulsa DUI Guys, we will work with you to analyze every detail of your DUI case to minimize the impact it will have on you and your life.
If you took a field sobriety test, for example, we’ll want to know if the officers involved were properly trained and the test was correctly administered. We’ll do the same if you were subjected to a breathalyzer – the reliability of which may be challenged in court – or if police extracted your blood to test for blood alcohol concentration. We’ll want to know if the police followed the law leading up to your traffic stop. Did you, in fact, commit a traffic violation? Did police have sufficient cause to believe you may be impaired?
Have a safe Labor Day holiday. But if you do find yourself accused of crime, you’ll want the best advocacy available to ensure your rights are protected.