Every fifty minutes, a driver dies in a DUI accident in the U.S. and the majority of these accidents occur during the holidays. Law enforcement is well aware of the statistics. That’s why you’re more likely to get pulled over during certain times of the year.
How Level of Intoxication Is Measured
Your blood alcohol content, or BAC, is the concentration of alcohol in your bloodstream. It’s expressed as the number of grams present in 100 milliliters of your blood. In Michigan, a person 21 years of age or older cannot legally operate a motor vehicle when their BAC is .08 or more.
BrAC is another acronym that is used. It is an abbreviation for breath alcohol concentration. It’s expressed as grams of alcohol in 210 liters of your breath. Michigan Law states that a person 21 years of age or older cannot legally operate a motor vehicle if their BrAC is .08 or more.
New Year’s Eve
Wringing in the New Year means a midnight toast. Unfortunately, people are drinking too much before the clock strikes twelve and continue partying for hours afterward. Cops are aware of this so they’re parked in high-risk areas around bars and restaurants and sometimes even set up checkpoints to catch drunk drivers.
• Average number of drinks consumed this holiday: 4.4
Mardi Gras
The only holiday that comes in ahead of New Year’s Eve for DUIs is Mardi Gras. Depending on where you live, this might not seem like a huge concern but if you do visit one of the many drinking establishments that host parties, be prepared to see a cop car parked in an inconspicuous place as you pull out of the parking lot.
• Average number of drinks consumed this holiday: 4.5
Christmas
Santa may not want milk and cookies. If alcohol consumption statistics are any indication, ole Saint Nick may prefer a few shots of bourbon in his eggnog instead. While people don’t drink as much at Christmas as they do during other holidays, the threat of getting pulled over is still there because the police know you’re celebrating and want to keep everyone safe from drunk drivers.
• Average number of drinks consumed this holiday: 3.1
Thanksgiving
Overindulging is a hallmark of the Thanksgiving holiday and apparently, most of us are having plenty of beer while eating turkey and watching the football game. Most Thanksgiving Day celebrations happen at home, but a lot of alcohol is consumed in front of the TV, as well as in bars airing the game on those nice big-screen TVs.
• Average number of drinks consumed this holiday: 2.7
The Fourth of July deserves an honorable mention, with 43 people dying on Michigan roads from the period between June 29 and July 6, 2021. Most of these fatal wrecks had to do with July 4 celebrations.
In a Wreck? Call a Lawyer
So the answer to the question if you’re more likely to be pulled over during the holidays is a resounding yes. Even if you only use taxicabs or rideshares once a year, this is the time to do it. Getting behind the wheel after drinking on a holiday is too risky to take chances.
If you find yourself in a car wreck, a Detroit car accident lawyer should be your first call. Keep other conversations to a minimum and call an attorney. Traps are set to catch intoxicated drivers, but if you make a mistake and fear losing your license and paying huge fines, help is available.
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