It seems to many of us that over the past several years, Halloween has become more than a children’s holiday. In workplaces and at parties, more and more adults have begun to indulge in dressing up – sometimes in a rather risqué costume – and socializing.
While most of this is harmless fun, many if not most Halloween parties serve alcohol, and some people who are not used to drinking may not realize how quickly they can become impaired. For some, just a couple of drinks can put them over the limit – and at risk of getting arrested for DUI on the way home from the party.
The Colorado State Patrol was on the lookout for suspected cases of drinking and driving over Halloween weekend. According to news release by the state patrol, state troopers and 95 local law enforcement agencies arrested 447 people for DUI over the holiday weekend, which the state patrol defined as between 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28, through 3 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1.
The highest number of DUI arrests in the state took place in Denver, with 58 people potentially facing charges. Second highest was Colorado Springs, which had 39, followed by 20 in Aurora. No one was killed in an alcohol-related accident over the weekend, though there were 10 such fatalities in October.
Anyone arrested for DUI could face serious penalties if found guilty. An experienced criminal defense attorney can explain your rights to you and help conduct your legal defense.
Source: Denver Post, “447 people arrested on suspicion of DUI statewide over Halloween weekend,” Nov. 10, 2011