St. Patrick’s Day is a time for celebrating Irish heritage by dying everything green, eating more cabbage and of course, drinking a lot more than usual.
Alcohol sales soar over the holiday, with beer spiking 174% and spirits up 153%. And when the celebrating is done, many still try to drive home. While certainly not every person on the road over the holiday is doing something wrong, law enforcement is likely to take a closer look when a driver seems off.
Road risks
Regardless if you’re a student driving a few minutes back to campus or off-duty military trekking all the way back up to Fort Campbell, the police will likely place you under a lot more scrutiny than usual. That increased scrutiny could also be coming from a lot more eyes than on a normal night.
Tennessee Highway Patrol has traditionally upped their enforcement on St. Patrick’s Day, often for a short window around the celebration. Sobriety checkpoints and heightened awareness can lead to a larger number of arrests. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding the arrest, facing these charges alone could be a big mistake.
Drinking defense
When even first-time offenders can face serious consequences, it’s important that you don’t underestimate the importance of showing up prepared. Reviewing roadside tests, looking over evidence and double-checking equipment could go a long way to giving you a more favorable outcome.
Having a strong defense against drinking and driving allegations can be essential with charges before you, so make sure you understand how to move forward.