St. Paddy’s Day is here again, and many Texans will be drinking green beer in Fort Worth this weekend – along with spirits in a variety of other shades. If you plan to celebrate the Irish spirit by drinking, here are several tips to keep you from getting charged with a DWI.
Arrange for a Designated Driver
With this plan in place, no one is at risk for getting charged with a DWI. Plan to buy your designated driver a nice meal in exchange for his or her service, and next time you go out, return the favor.
Have Alternate Plans for Getting Home
Can’t find a designated driver? That’s okay, you still have several other options. Make plans for a friend or family member to pick you up at a certain time. Download the Uber app and make sure your phone is charged before you leave, so you can easily arrange for a ride when you are ready to leave. You can also call a cab or take public transportation home.
Plan Ahead
Depending on where your party is held, make plans to stay put or arrange for a ride home ahead of time. If the plan is in place before you start partying, you won’t be tempted to drink and drive.
Download Helpful Apps
There are several apps that can help you stay safer on St. Patrick’s Day, and any other time of the year too. Intellidrink will estimate your blood alcohol content. Alucudroid Alcohol Tracker is similar and helps you keep track of drinking habits on your Android device. BACtrack helps you estimate your blood alcohol level with precision.
For rides, you can use SaferRide for an easy-to-operate ride order when you’re tipsy. Other ride options are Curb, TaxiHail and Cabzilla.
Put the Keys Away
Surrender your keys to the party host when you arrive. That way you have a safeguard in place in case you drink too much. Also, remember to take the keys from anyone else who has too much to drink. They may get upset, but the risk is too high to ignore. They’ll thank you later.
Drink Plenty of Water
Alcohol is acidic, and it dries your system out. Drink one full glass of water for every alcoholic drink you have. This will help your body process the alcohol faster.
Eat a Full Meal
Plan to enjoy all the good Irish food along with your green beer: cabbage rolls, shepherd’s pie, and soda bread. The delicious food will help your body absorb the alcohol and slow its effects on your system.
Stop Drinking Early
If you drink all the way until the end of a party, you’ll put yourself in a precarious situation. Taper off your drinking an hour or two before the party ends, and your late-night judgment will significantly improve.
If You Are Charged with DWI on St. Patrick’s Day
A DWI charge on St. Patrick’s Day can instantly ruin all the fun you had. If convicted, you could lose your driver’s license, be forced to pay steep fines and high insurance costs, and possibly spend time in jail.
The good news is that a qualified DWI attorney knows many ways to get your charges reduced or dropped. Your attorney will know a number of different defense strategies that you may be able to use to fight your DWI charges. Call today for a free case review.
About the Author:
After getting his Juris Doctor from the University of Houston Law Center, Jeff Hampton began practicing criminal law in Texas in 2005. Before becoming a defense attorney, he worked as a prosecutor for the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office – experience he uses to anticipate and cast doubt on the arguments that will be used against his clients. Over the course of his career, he has helped countless Texans protect their rights and get the best possible outcome in their criminal cases. His skill has earned him recognition from the National Trial Lawyers (Top 100 Trial Lawyers) and Avvo (Top Attorney in Criminal Defense, Top Attorney in DUI & DWI, 10/10 Superb Rating), and he is Lead Counsel rated.
