Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
In a campaign to crack down on drunk driving that began on August 15, police agencies around Riverside County in California arrested 187 people for suspicion of DUI over a six-day time span, according to a news article at the Patch. This campaign, named the Riverside County Avoid the 30 due to the fact that 30 police agencies were involved, is a late-summer kick off of the campaign which will continue through the Labor Day weekend.
The news article states that beginning on Friday the 15th through Wednesday evening, sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols were set up at a number of locations throughout the county. While the number of arrests seems high, Riverside police Sgt. Robert Tipre, coordinator of the Avoid campaign, said that the number was slightly down from the 234 individuals arrested during the same time period in 2013. Thankfully, out of the 187 arrested last week, there were no fatal car accidents related to alcohol.
September 1st is Labor Day, and between now and then there will be sobriety checkpoints throughout the country as various law enforcement agencies participate in the Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over national DUI campaign. The Avoid campaign in California is part of this campaign in which law enforcement agencies hope to increase awareness about the dangers of drunk driving, and catch those who are breaking the law.
Driving while under the influence of alcohol is a problem across the nation, including here in Michigan. Most people who get behind the wheel believe they are perfectly capable of driving in a safe manner. Most people do make it safely to their destination, however when an accident occurs that results in injury or even death, it is tragic.
Even when you are not involved in an accident, having the police pull you over on suspicion of driving under the influence is not pleasant – and if arrested and charged, you could face jail time, steep fines, suspension of your driver’s license, community service, and a permanent criminal record.
If you have been charged with DUI, don’t plead guilty without first consulting with an experienced Michigan DUI attorney who can review your case and determine whether there may be legal options to help you avoid the penalties of a DUI conviction.