Next weekend, March Madness will come to a fever pitch as the NCAA Tournament takes center stage. But we can’t forget about how popular St. Patrick’s Day can be. So while many will cheer on their favorite team, events and celebrations commemorating Irish heritage are still very popular.
Unfortunately, St. Patrick’s Day is also known for excessive drinking. Because of that, law enforcement agencies throughout the Atlanta metro area are gearing up for partygoers and will be setting up extra patrols during the weekend of March 17th. Essentially, more officers are expected to be on the streets from Friday afternoon through early Sunday morning.
While we encourage our readers to enjoy the festivities of their choice, we want to remind them of the consequences (and costs) of a DUI arrest and conviction. Offending drivers face hundreds of dollars in fines and court costs, as well as the prospect of spending time in jail.
Driving under the influence is punished as a misdemeanor offense. They also will be subject to an alcohol assessment, and may be required to participate in alcohol safety classes. Most importantly, offending drivers will have a criminal record that may follow them for years to come.
Of course, those arrested on suspicion of drunk driving could possibly avoid these consequences by hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney, but legal representation is another cost that could be avoided. With that, drivers should consider that the cost of calling an Uber, using public transportation or simply using a designated driver is much cheaper than marshalling the funds to defend a DUI charge.
