A new year! A
time for new exercise routines, getting organized, re-evaluation, and new
beginnings!
Don’t start
your new year and the first day of the rest of your life off with a DWI arrest,
or worse!
Just like every
other year, law enforcement officers will be out on increased DWI patrols this
holiday. They will be looking for even the smallest reason to pull someone over
on the off-chance that person is intoxicated. You know it. Everyone knows it. You’ve
seen them out there before. Maybe they’ve even pulled you over in years past
for whatever reason. So why be that person this year? You’re smarter than that.
Think you’re
good enough to avoid being pulled over? There will also undoubtedly be sobriety
checkpoints around. Funny thing about checkpoints, cops like to set them up in
a location that limits your ability to avoid it. And flipping a u-turn before
you get to it WILL draw the cop’s attention to you.
Personally, I’m
not a huge New Year’s Eve fan. I prefer to stay in, have a nice dinner, watch
some football, and maybe have a drink or two without the stress of having to
drive or be on the road with those people who have no respect for anyone else
and are driving while intoxicated. But I get it, it’s a fun holiday! A reason
to celebrate! So if you are going out, be sure you have a designated driver
(and be sure that DD doesn’t sneak a few drinks), or have money for a cab, or
walk, or sleep where you pass out. Just don’t drive after you’ve been drinking.
The consequence
of a DWI arrest – before you’ve even been convicted of anything – are severe. They
include, at a minimum, suspension of your license or privilege to drive and the
significant expenses of 1) obtaining a conditional license, 2) obtaining a
substance abuse evaluation and 3) hiring a DWI defense attorney. You’re already
looking at several thousand dollars right there, just from being arrested.
And if you’re
convicted, forget about it. That’s at least another several thousand dollars in
fines, surcharges, fees for classes, another conditional license, the ignition interlock
device, DMV administrative fees and the damage to your insurance. Those commercials
that get your attention by warning you that even your first DWI can cost you
around $10,000 are pretty accurate!! Save yourself the trouble and the money.
Make 2016 your
best year yet! Don’t start it in jail, in debt and embarrassed.
