If you’re reading this, then you, or someone you knew, was recently arrested and charged with DUI in North Carolina. This isn’t something anybody does on purpose. Most people who are arrested for drunk driving are good people who made a terrible mistake. Some of our clients were arrested for DUI because their blood alcohol concentration was higher than the .08 legal limit. Others had no business being behind the wheel of a car. Regardless of how intoxicated you were at the time of your arrest, one of our Asheville DUI lawyers can help. Our goal is to do whatever we can to get your charges reduced or dismissed. If that isn’t possible, we will try to negotiate the best possible outcome on your behalf.
One thing we can say for certain is that we get a lot more calls about DUI in North Carolina this time of year than anything else. Not only are there more people on the road during the winter holidays, but many of them are driving in unfamiliar territory. Even those people who know where they’re going aren’t always safe to be behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. When people go out and celebrate the holidays, they tend to drink a lot more than they do the rest of the year. People who may have a polite sip of wine at dinner let loose when they’re around their family and friends. What this means is that there is a much greater chance of someone getting behind the wheel after having one too many cocktails.
Our Asheville DUI lawyers meet with dozens of people every year who have been arrested and charged with DUI in North Carolina. These numbers go way up during the winter holidays. Our hope is that you’re reading this and take the warning for what it is. The cops will be out in full force this year for the holidays, looking to keep the roads safe for all travelers. This means they’ll be looking extra hard for people who may be driving under the influence. If you happen to get arrested, you’re going to need a good criminal defense attorney in Asheville.
The Police Have an Eye Out for Drunk Drivers All Year
The police in North Carolina are always on the lookout for drunk drivers. Their job is to make sure the roads are safe for motorists and pedestrians. This means they need to keep drunk drivers off the road. What this means for you is that the cops are looking hard for people driving under the influence. Even if you think you’re okay to drive after attending a holiday party or dinner, you need to think twice. If there is any chance you aren’t safe to drive, arrange for an Uber or Lyft driver to come pick you up.
Normally, the police pay extra attention to bars and restaurants right around closing time. They know there’s a good chance that someone coming out of these establishments has had a few too many alcoholic beverages. However, once the holidays roll around, the police are constantly on the lookout for holiday revelers.
The Police in Asheville Will Be Out in Full Force
You have probably noticed in the past that you see more police cruisers out during the holidays. Some are forced to work at the malls, making sure nobody is stealing. They also keep an eye on busy parking lots in case there is a fender bender or angry shoppers. At the same time, there are extra police on patrol. They usually set up camp at their usual posts and wait for somebody to drive by showing the signs of impairment. Some of these signs include:
- Weaving in and out of lanes – People who are driving under the influence don’t pay enough attention to the road. Either that or they’re impaired to the point where the lines appear blurry to them. Either way, if the police see you doing this, they will pull you over, no matter what time of day it is.
- You are driving with the windows way down, even in the cold weather – Even the cops know that people tend to open their windows when they’re trying to stay alert. Some people do this when they’re tired. Others do it when they’re feeling the effects of a few beers or cocktails. If the police see you driving this way, they may pull you over and check to see if you’re drunk driving.
- You don’t stop at a red light or stop sign – This is something we all do from time to time. You could be completely distracted or just don’t see any traffic around. You make a right turn without making a full stop. The next thing you know, you’re crashing into the broadside of another car or SUV. If the police who respond to the scene notice that you’re under the influence, you will be arrested and charged with DUI.
If any of these happen, you need to call a criminal defense attorney in Asheville. They’ll do their best to get the charges reduced or dismissed all together.
Make Sure You Contact an Asheville DUI Lawyer if You Get Arrested for DUI in North Carolina
Nobody ever plans on getting arrested for drunk driving. However, this is the time of year when people celebrate the holidays with friends and families. Many of these celebrations involve alcohol. You may have a few beers or hot toddies. Maybe you have one toast too many on New Year’s Eve. Regardless of how it happened, if you’re arrested for DUI in North Carolina, you need to meet with a criminal defense attorney in Asheville right away. One of our attorneys will get down to the police station and see what they can do about getting you out.
One of the tricky things about getting arrested around the holidays is that the judges are working on a skeleton crew at best. This means that there may not be a judge immediately available to sign off on your release. The last thing you want to do is end up in jail for a three- or four-night weekend because the judge is out of town for the holidays.
We suggest that you use your one phone call to contact one of our Asheville DUI lawyers. If you’re not able to do that, then call a friend or family member and have them get in touch with our office. With so much at stake, it’s not a good idea to try to handle this on your own. Your chances of having the DUI in North Carolina charges reduced or dismissed significantly increase if you have a seasoned defense attorney in Asheville by your side.
