St. Patrick's Day Leads to Increased DUI Enforcement in Georgia

According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, there will be a significant increase in the amount of DUI enforcement over this coming weekend in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day.

If you or someone you care for is arrested for and charged with DUI over the coming St. Patrick's Day weekend, you need an experienced Georgia DUI defense attorney to defend your case and protect your rights.

Increased Police Presence

A great many Americans, both Irish and non-Irish alike, are ready for a fun weekend of drinking green beer, wearing green clothes (don't get pinched), and seeing shamrock decorations everywhere. However, for those who choose to drink and get behind the wheel, they will likely find themselves charged with a Georgia DUI.

The Governor's Office of Highway Safety is teaming up with TEAM Georgia, a safe and sober driving coalition, as well as the Georgia Department of Public Safety and the Georgia Department of Transportation. Law enforcement will be out in force using multiple methods to look for and catch intoxicated drivers.

"On the Hunt"

Georgia police are hunting for drunk drivers and they employ several different methods in order to look for drivers who have had too much to drink.

Breathalyzer Tests

Officers carry roadside breathalyzer tests to help determine if a drive who has been pulled over is under the influence of alcohol. If a person blows 0.08% blood alcohol content (BAC) or higher, he or she is considered per se intoxicated. However, these tests are not known for their accuracy and can easily be off by 0.02% or more. This could lead to a false finding of intoxication.

Field Sobriety Tests

Field sobriety tests are designed to assist Georgia officers in the hunt for drunk drivers. The three most common field sobriety tests are:

1. the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test,
2. the Walk and Turn Test, and
3. the One Leg Balance Test.

Like other "tests" for intoxication, these commonly lead to false positive indicators of drunk driving. Balancing on one leg and the walk and turn test especially are difficult for many people even when they haven't had a drop of alcohol or never touch drugs.

Roadside Checkpoints

Roadside checkpoints are a very common method to catch drunk drivers, especially around the holidays. This is especially true around St. Patrick's Day, which is a holiday best known (in this country, anyway) for partying and consuming alcohol.

Roadside checkpoints are placed on Georgia roads to stop every vehicle for a quick look to see if a driver is under the influence of alcohol. Officers are trained to look for signs of intoxication, beer bottles, poor driving, and other factors that could lead to a DUI arrest. Roadside checkpoints have certain requirements and limitations that may be useful in creating a defense to your DUI charges.

Consult an Experienced Georgia DUI Defense Attorney

If the holiday weekend results in a DUI charge for yourself or someone you care about, an experienced Georgia DUI defense attorney has the knowledge and training necessary to protect your constitutional rights. Contact us today for a free consultation of your case.