When you plan to go out on the town and have a few drinks, you should plan to have a designated driver. It is a good idea to choose your designated driver before you go out. Many people believe they are still okay to drive when they’ve had a few drinks, but their blood alcohol concentrations may be high enough to warrant charges for drunk driving.

THINK THROUGH YOUR LIST OF FRIENDS

When you are thinking about who to invite to join you for your night out and about, consider inviting at least one friend who would be willing to act as the designated driver. Maybe you have a friend who doesn’t drink at all because of any of the following reasons:

  • Religious beliefs
  • Having a dislike of alcohol
  • Alcoholism in the family so they don’t drink
  • Completing a body detoxification

Friends who don’t drink or who aren’t currently drinking for any reason are great choices to invite and ask if they would be willing to be your designated driver. If you don’t have any friends who don’t drink, then you and your friends might want to agree to switch off holding that responsibility for each time you go out for drinks.

ALTERNATIVES

When you are already out and nobody in your group wants to avoid drinking, you do have some choices other than risking it behind the wheel. You can use Uber or Lyft. You can also take a taxi home. Public transportation, while inconvenient, is also a far better option than risking a DUI. There are also designated driver services that may be able to help. “Your Car Our Driver” is one such company. It will send a designated driver to drive you in your car to your home. That way, you won’t have to deal with the issue of how to pick up your car the following day.

CHOOSING A DESIGNATED DRIVER

When you do choose a designated driver, you should keep several things in mind. First, make certain that you understand the plan for getting home before you start drinking. You should only designate a driver that you know will follow through and who will not end up drinking with you while you are out. Carpooling is also very smart. If you and your friends ride together in a car driven by your designated driver, then you won’t be tempted to try to drive home when the evening is finished. Finally, if it is your turn to act as the designated driver for your friends, make certain you forgo drinking and try to keep them from driving away in their own cars at the end of the night.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PERKS

A large number of restaurants and other establishments will give designated drivers free, non-alcoholic drinks and appetizers. You might want to call the place you intend to go and ask if they do anything like that for people who are acting as designated drivers.

If you took a chance and drove home after a night out, you may have been stopped and arrested for drunk driving. If you were, you should get help from an experienced criminal defense lawyer who regularly defends against drunk driving allegations.

It is common for police officers to wait down the street from certain bars and clubs. They do this so that they can catch more people for drunk driving offenses. A criminal defense attorney may be able to help you get a better outcome if this has happened to you. The Law Firm of Scott D. Henry is the leading DUI defense firm in San Bernadino, Riverside and Orange County. Attorney Henry has a reputation among his peers, prosecutors and his clients as being a very knowledgeable and skilled DUI lawyer. Contact us today to find out how we can help you with your case.