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Getting behind the wheel? Steer clear of DWI with these tips

On Behalf of | Sep 25, 2017 | Blog |

Who doesn’t enjoy getting together with friends for a little football, food and fun over the weekend? After a long, hard week at work, you may be just like many other Wisconsin residents who start looking forward to the next Packers’ game as soon as your feet hit the floor on Monday morning. If you’re part of the tailgating scene, you may even shop for ingredients ahead of time to make the snacks and drinks you’ll be serving at the next game. 

It’s not uncommon for beverages at such events to contain alcohol. Having a few cold ones while you get psyched up to cheer your favorite team into the end zone is a favorite pastime of many NFL fans. Hopefully, you’re fully aware of the potential risks involved when consuming alcohol if you plan to drive home later. After all, you’d hate to ruin a great tailgate party by getting in an accident or facing DWI charges, or both.

Keeping these practical tips in mind may help

As you likely already know, it’s perfectly legal, if you are age 21 or older, to drink alcohol. However, there are laws regarding how much alcohol can be in your bloodstream while you’re operating a motor vehicle. The easiest way to avoid DWI is to abstain if you plan to drive. If you do choose to imbibe, the following ideas may prove useful to keep you safe and out of trouble:

  • You may not necessarily be the one scheduled to drive to or from the next football game or party. To stay as safe as possible, if you suspect the person driving you home had too much alcohol to do so legally, don’t get in the car with him or her. In fact, as a good friend, you’ll likely want to help him or her find safer alternate transportation as well.
  • If you think you’ll be tempted to drive drunk, give your car keys to a friend ahead of time, just in case.
  • Taking advantage of taxi services, such as Uber or other transportation companies in your area is an easy way to avoid DWI.
  • It’s a good thing tailgate parties usually include food because eating while you consume alcohol slows its absorption rate into your bloodstream, which can help you prevent drunk driving.

You’re not necessarily breaking the law if you consume alcohol then drive a car, but you may be if doing so compromises your ability to drive safely. By making responsible choices, those who do so can avoid collisions and help to keep all motorists and pedestrians sharing their roadways, safe. If a police officer pulls you over in a traffic stop and you know you have alcohol in your system, you may be at risk for DWI.

In such situations, it’s important to remember your rights and to pay close attention to everything that happens during your interaction with police. If you question an officer’s actions and believe he or she has violated your rights, you can request immediate defense assistance to help rectify the issue.

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