It’s the nation’s birthday and celebrations are invariably loud and colorful. They smell good, too, with delicious scents wafting through the Denver air from grills ready to feed hungry masses of family and friends.
Our skies will be lit up with fireworks and sometimes rear-view mirrors will be lit up, too — by Denver police officers pulling motorists over for drunken driving. That’s exactly when the holiday weekend fun ends and the legal process begins.
Last year, just over 300 Colorado motorists were busted for DUI over the July 4th weekend. In Denver alone, nearly 50 people were taken into custody on suspicion of driving while impaired. This year, everyone hopes the totals will be lower here and across the state.
After all, no one wants crowded streets and highways to be more dangerous than they are already. So if you plan on having an adult beverage or two this weekend, please remember to let a designated driver get you from Point A to Point B.
A sober, designated driver is a great alternative to getting behind the wheel after you have consumed alcohol. But if you don’t have someone to designate, call a cab or a ride-share service. They’re a little more expensive than a ride from a sober friend, but not nearly as pricey as an arrest can be.
You face large potential fines and fees with a DUI, including mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device at your expense, alcohol education classes, the cost of reinstating a suspended driver’s license, court fees, higher auto insurance premiums, etc.
Many people facing those enormous expenses turn to an effective, cost-efficient DUI defense attorney to help them get through the legal process while sustaining minimal financial damage (not to mention possible jail sentences).
Please enjoy your Fourth safely!