North Carolina is a great place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The festivities begin early with “kegs and eggs” breakfast being offered by various bars and restaurants. The festivities continue late into the night, with plenty of green beer to go around.
Having fun is great, but it’s even better when you’re being responsible and aware of potential consequences. If you choose to drink, make sure you don’t get behind the wheel of a vehicle, as you could be charged with a DWI.
Tips for a safe celebration
To ensure a safe and enjoyable time at a party, it’s important to take certain precautions. Here are some ways to prevent a DWI from ruining your celebration:
- Choose someone to act as the designated driver. Since this person will not be drinking, make sure they have plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy during the festivities.
- Avoid drinking on an empty stomach. Eat both before and during the party to help your body better metabolize the alcohol.
- Make sure to charge your phone and download ride-hailing apps, such as Lyft or Uber, so you have a way to get home safely if needed.
- Watch out for your friends. Take away the keys from any member of your group who plans to drive after drinking.
Penalties for DWI in North Carolina are severe. Depending on your age, the kind of license, and the infraction type you may be charged with, you might be subject to consequences such as:
- Costly fines and court expenses.
- Revocation or suspension of a license.
- Time behind bars. In certain cases, prison time is required rather than optional.
- Community service hours.
- Higher auto insurance fees.
- You may also be required to attend a drug or alcohol safety program.
As you can see, it is in your best interest to avoid impaired driving charges this holiday. With that said, it’s surprisingly easy to find yourself on the wrong side of the law in this regard. As such, keep in mind that seeking legal guidance as soon as you can will help you to protect your rights and options if you do end up arrested for drinking and driving.
