Memorial Day weekend is already behind us. While many of us are probably still a bit exhausted or depressed now that the long weekend is behind us, others in Colorado are dealing with some more serious stress. Maybe they were pulled over on their way home from a holiday celebration and found that their joy of the weekend was disrupted by a drunk driving arrest.
Law enforcement throughout Colorado was amped up over the weekend and will continue to be out in full force through the summer. The campaign “100 Days of Heat” began last weekend and will last all the way through the end of Labor Day weekend. Colorado officials’ goals are to reduce the number of drunk drivers on the roads and improve traffic safety.
According to CBS Denver, alcohol contributed to a reported 67 deaths on Colorado roads last summer. Authorities take those incidents as reason to create stricter DUI laws and devote more time, men and women to busting supposedly impaired drivers. “100 Days of Heat” means that more patrols looking for potentially drunk drivers will be on roads. It also means that more DUI checkpoints will be put in place during the summer.
It is easy to get excited about the arrival of summer and to get wrapped up in the fun of seasonal barbecues and holidays. But it is also easy to get pulled over and charged with a DUI. An accusation, however, doesn’t have to lead to a drunk driving conviction for a suspect. Law enforcement can make a suspect immediately feel guilty and, therefore, willing to accept that they are guilty of driving drunk.
Before making any decisions regarding a criminal charge, a defendant should consult with a defense attorney in their area who can explain their rights, look at a specific incident and list the options available in the aftermath of a DUI arrest. Summer is not a reason for law enforcement to overstep its bounds and an attorney can help determine if a suspect’s rights were violated.
Source: CBS Denver, “Police Across Colorado Begin ‘Heat Is On’ Campaign,” May 26, 2012