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Labor Day DUI Crack Down In Full Effect – Now!

It’s Labor Day weekend. Your  best friend’s hosting the swankiest end-of-summer party and all your  beautiful friends are there.  You hit the martini bar a couple of times,  maybe have a beer or two toward the end of the night because you know you need to drive in a couple of hours… It’s  now after midnight. You have an early work meeting in the morning so you bid your good nights. You go to grab your keys  in your pocket but hey, they’re not there. Oh, that’s right -other pocket. Hmm, maybe you left them on the kitchen table…  Hello? Wake up!  If you do end up finding them, don’t even think about using those keys to drive a car. 

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), GHSA and local law enforcement are joining forces across the nation this year to take part in the campaign called Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. 

But they aren’t waiting for Labor Day. There are currently 41 ‘Avoid DUI Task forces’ out in effect.  Starting August 21st, 2009 and going through September 7th there will be 111 individual jurisdictions mounting enforcement mobilizations.  To top that off, look out for any extra check points placed randomly throughout the state, including increased saturation patrols covering; get this, 98% of the entire state of California’s population!

That’s right. Don’t even think about it. Simply and smartly, don’t take the chance.

In California on your first DUI offense, your license will be suspended for 4 months. You’ll get increased penalties if your blood level alcohol concentration is above .15%. Your car will be confiscated and impounded, but  you’ll still have to make the payments. And that’s just the beginning.  I’m assuming if you still have a job in this economy, you’ll probably want to hold on to it.  A clean record helps.

Instead of grabbing those keys yourself: 

1. Ask your friend or host of the party if you can spend the night.
2. Call a taxi. There are many communities that offer the Safe Rides program for a free ride home. You can always get your car later. (As for your morning meeting, you aren’t getting there if you get arrested. You will be in jail until the authorities decide you’re sober, which is generally 9 hours.)
3. Choose a designated driver or ask a non-drinking friend to help get you home.
4. You may have a cell phone. Call your mom or dad, sister or brother, cousin or uncle. They’ll understand.
5. And, when you do get that ride home, always wear your seat belt. You never know who else visited the martini bar a few times and had trouble finding their keys before they got behind the wheel.

Finally, if you really just don’t think this applies to you: Call me at 1-888-BAIL BOND from whatever jail you’ve landed in anywhere in California.  I’ll bail you out.

Photocredit: © mario beauregard- Fotolia.com