Driving while under the influence is never something to joke about. This is because of the serious implications of destroying property and harming people that come with driving while under the influence. Read on to see how to avoid getting a DUI in Rochester NY and stay safe while on the road.
1. Hail a Ride or Use Public Transport
Note that if you are found to have a blood alcohol content above 0.16, you can face imprisonment for any length of time from three days all the way to six months. This will be alongside a fine of $1,000 to $5,000 as well as a suspension of your driver’s license for a whole year. With such potential penalties, it’s a great idea to avoid driving if you have been drinking by hailing a taxi with a ride-hailing app. Alternatively, use public transportation if it’s an option that’s available and safe for you.
2. Get a Designated Driver
When you know that you are going to a party where you will potentially drink, it’s a good idea to make plans beforehand. If you are going as a group, pick one person whom you all trust to be the designated driver. Since your safety and not just their reputation and legal implications will be dependent on the person you pick, it’s good to pick a reliable and trustworthy person. This way, you can all have fun and rest assured that you will get back home safe and sound.
3. Book a Hotel Room
If you have the option to just spend the night when you are going to party, then take this option. Book a hotel room if there is one in or near the premises. This will allow you ample time to party and drink and then rest enough to make sure that all the alcohol is out of your system. With the benefits of being able to get a good breakfast, which will further decrease any alcohol in your system, this is an amazing way to avoid getting a DUI in Rochester NY. Remember that illicit drugs and alcohol are involved in over 15,000 fatalities from car injuries every single year. This is a much higher price to pay than simply paying for a hotel room at the place where you end up drinking.
4. Stop Taking Alcohol Early
If none of the options above are available to you for one reason or another, then you should think about simply stopping taking alcohol early on. This may help you sober up before you climb behind the wheel and allow your body enough time to metabolize the alcohol to a safe and legal limit. To make sure that this works out in your favor, make sure to eat carbohydrates before or while you drink. Also, try and alternate alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages so that you don’t end up with too much alcohol in your system.
5. Ensure That Your Car is in Good Shape
Finally, make sure to service your car regularly and maintain it in good running order throughout. This is because you may be subjected to a traffic stop as a result of something like a tail light that doesn’t work. You may then be put through sobriety tests that may either be routine or as a result of the officer detecting the potential of inebriation. While you may be in good enough condition to drive, this test may find you to have a blood alcohol content above the legal limit and thus, land you with a DUI. In NYC, 4,332 motorists got hurt in car accidents in the first quarter of 2021. This is enough to show you the reason why driving under the influence is taken seriously and not tolerated at all.
Use these five methods to avoid getting a DUI in Rochester NY and you may have a better chance of getting to and from your destination safely.
