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Celebrate Responsibly: Tips for Planning a Safe Halloween Weekend

Celebrate Responsibly: Tips for Planning a Safe Halloween Weekend

 

Halloween is right around the corner, and where there is Halloween for adults, there is alcohol. And where there is alcohol, there is a chance of getting a DUI. Across the country, DUI cases spike by 25 percent during the holiday season. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2015, 52 percent of total fatalities in traffic accidents on Halloween night were attributable to drunk driving, and they warn that number is rising each year. Therefore, the top DUI lawyers in Clearwater with The Law Office of Timothy Sullivan urge you to celebrate responsibly during this time. If you do find yourself arrested for a DUI, we can help you fight for your rights and potentially lessen the charge.

To learn our top tips for planning a safe Halloween holiday this year, read on.

1. Have a Designated Driver

If you are planning to have a drink at a Halloween party, always have a designated driver with you who is not drinking during the celebration. If you suspect that your designated driver has been drinking, do not get in the vehicle with them. 

Additionally, you should never carry an open container of alcohol into the vehicle with you. Even if you are not the designated driver behind the wheel, even a passenger in a motor vehicle can be cited for possessing an Open Container.

2. Pre-Order a Rideshare Service to Travel Home

After you have been drinking, it is easier to make poor decisions, like deciding to drive when you’ve had a few drinks. Even if you believe you are not over the legal BAC limit of 0.08, you are at a greater risk of getting into an accident or driving recklessly, which could lead to a traffic citation, or worse. 

Instead, pre-order an Uber or Lyft and schedule it to arrive after your festivities are over. Knowing your ride home is on its way will help you to circumvent the need or desire to get behind the wheel at all.

3. Call an Attorney at The Law Office of Timothy Sullivan If Pulled Over

If you are pulled over or arrested for driving under the influence on Halloween, contacting an attorney at The Law Office of Timothy Sullivan is of utmost importance. As the top DUI attorneys in Clearwater, we are able to assess the circumstances of your arrest and swiftly plan a strategic approach to limit the impact of any charge. In some cases, we may be able to present mitigating circumstances to the prosecutor that might result in the charge being reduced from a DUI to reckless driving. 

Our team has successfully represented thousands of DUI cases in Pinellas County, meaning we know the ins and outs of the 6th Judicial Circuit, and are familiar with many of the judges and prosecutors. We are former State Prosecutors who are also certified intoxilyzer operators, and are able to determine if the police who administered the breathalyzer test did so appropriately. If you have found yourself in an unfortunate situation on Halloween night, we provide free consultations over the phone at any time.

Don’t Drink and Drive This Halloween

Drinking and driving is not only dangerous to those around you, it is also a danger to yourself. You could face severe DUI penalties if you’re pulled over, and police are especially vigilant during this time. If you are pulled over this Halloween, call the top DUI lawyers in Clearwater at The Law Office of Timothy Sullivan immediately. 

We are available at any time by calling 727-855-3847 or completing our contact request form.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.

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Four Things To Do If You Test Positive for Alcohol While on DUI or Reckless Driving Probation

Four Things To Do If You Test Positive for Alcohol While on DUI or Reckless Driving Probation

 

One of the standard conditions of probation imposed by the judges in Pinellas County for DUI or Reckless Driving is that the subject refrain from alcohol consumption during the period of probation. Testing by the probation department is conducted by urinalysis testing, which can detect the presence of alcohol in the urine for days after consumption. These violations are prosecuted with particular vigor by the State Attorney’s Office and taken equally seriously by the County Court judges here in the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

1. Contact Clearwater’s Top DUI Attorneys

Speaking with an experienced member of our DUI Defense team immediately after you learn of a possible violation will allow us to craft a plan of action to minimize the effects that a Violation of Probation will have on your life. Our team of lawyers practices in front of each of the County Court judges on a daily basis.

2. Consider a Hair Follicle Test

In some cases, a client is adamant that the urinalysis was a “false positive” and that he/she did not consume any alcohol. In these cases, it may make sense to secure a hair follicle test which can detect the presence of alcohol for up to 90 days after consumption. A negative hair follicle test will arm your lawyer with scientific evidence of your innocence.

3. Prepare Mitigation

In other cases, a client has “fallen off the wagon” and made an error in judgment by consuming alcohol. In those scenarios, it is best to address the problem head on and come up with a plan to give the Court and the State Attorney’s Office peace of mind that the subject is not going to reoffend. This may involve additional treatment, AA meetings, alcohol monitoring, or residential alcohol treatment.

4. Timing is Everything

If the Court receives notice of a violation of probation for a positive alcohol urinalysis test, the most common course of action is the issuance of a zero-bond warrant. The current policy of the judges in Pinellas County is to not schedule a court date until the subject has surrendered on the warrant. For this reason, it is of the utmost importance that you speak with an experienced Clearwater DUI Defense Attorney to coordinate a plan for surrender on the warrant so that a Motion for Bond/Release can be contemporaneously filed and scheduled.

If you have been charged with a Violation of Probation (VOP) in Pinellas County for a DUI or Reckless Driving, our team of top DWI lawyers in Clearwater can help. Give us a call today at 727-855-3847 so that we may discuss the facts of your case and develop a strategy that best suits the unique circumstances of your situation.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.

Defense services for DUI and DWI offenses

FREE
CONSULTATION

24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week