Labor Day Celebrations Mean Increased DUI Arrest

As our Palm Beach and Broward County DUI defense lawyers know, there is little in life that people like to celebrate more than a day off from work.

This Labor Day, please be aware that some people will go a bit overboard and get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol, and that police officers will be out and about, looking to pull over swerving drivers and setting up DUI checkpoints.

Our Palm Beach and Broward County DUI defense lawyers know that, as a general rule, DUI arrests in South Florida tend to spike during holiday times, especially over Labor Day Weekend, which is often regarded as the last “real” weekend of summer. Because of this, people feel that this time of year is their last to truly enjoy their summer, and that’s why the roads can get dangerous and the county jails tend to fill up.

Remember that in the State of Florida, a DUI arrest can take place even if someone has no alcohol in their system. According to s. 316.193, which defines and outlines the crime of driving under the influence, a DUI can also occur when someone is caught operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of chemical or illicit substances that impair the person’s normal faculties. In other words, someone who uses marijuana, cocaine, heroin, illegal prescription drugs, etc., can be arrested for DUI if they are caught operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of said drugs.

Keeping in mind the fact that binge drinkng and recreational drug use tends to be more common among young adults, and considering government statistics which state that the rate of driving under the influence of alcohol (not to even mention drugs) among 18-25 year-olds in the U.S. is 20% (a shocking 1 in 5), we are left with the understanding that those who are most at risk of injuring themselves in a DUI-caused car crash and/or being arrested and having their records forever blemished are young adults, those who might not be thinking clearly about how their actions could affect their future.

Youthful indiscretion, as our lawyers at the Law Offices of Leifert & Leifert know, is not an excuse. As evidence of this is a blanket statement put out by the Pinecrest Police Department: ‘if you drink and drive, we will arrest you.’

The fact that Labor Day Weekend is frequently used by police officers as a time during which to crack down on DUI offenders means that even those who haven’t been partying or intending to get drunk and then drive might be caught in the crosshairs. As we know, simply having a glass of wine at dinner can lead to you getting arrested for DUI. People must be especially careful on Labor Day, just as on any other days on which there are more drunk drivers and more police officers out on the roads, both for their safety and for their records — your chances of getting arrested today, on Labor Day, are far higher than they are on any other random Monday in September.

Because all of our lawyers are former DUI prosecutors who now defend DUI cases, we have seen this offense and the resulting trials from many perspectives. In all of them, though, we recognize the harm that is done to one’s reputation and livelihood when they are arrested for and charged with DUI, regardless of the circumstances of their alleged offense. If you’ve been arrested for DUI in Palm Beach, Broward or Miami-Dade County, contact us for a free consultation by calling 1-888-5-DEFEND (1-888-533-3363). We’ve helped many others successfully fight DUI charges, and we can help you too.