If you want to avoid a ticket, it may be wise to stay off the roads as much as possible this holiday weekend.
There’s an aggressive push happening in law enforcement throughout New York state as part of the Stop-DWI Crackdown, which is expected to start Wed., Nov. 25 and continue until Sun., Nov. 29. This “high-visibility” enforcement period is designed to make drivers conscious of the fact that the authorities are watching for suspected drunk or drugged drivers in the area.
A repeat of this initiative is expected to happen during the December holidays, so both residents of the state and visitors from elsewhere would do well to keep the crackdown in mind.
How can you avoid being pulled over for suspected drugged or drunk driving?
The number one way to avoid a DWI is to avoid being pulled over in the first place. With that in mind, here are a few things you can do to improve your chances of getting to your destination without any trouble:
- Make sure that your vehicle is in good operating order. You can get pulled over for a broken tail light, for example.
- Obey all traffic laws. This means following the speed limit, respecting “no turn” zones and other traffic rules that you may be tempted to ignore when you’re in a hurry.
- Don’t drive when you’re tired. Weaving, drifting out of your lane, moving at an erratic speed and other patterns of behavior that happen when drivers are tired are also the signs that a driver may be impaired.
- Eliminate distractions. Put down your cellphone, ask a passenger to help you navigate and tell the people in the backseat to hush while you’re on the road.
A DWI charge is serious. If you do find yourself facing charges following this holiday weekend, get help from an experienced defender — fast. You need to protect your future.