Drunk driving arrests over Memorial Day weekend

In Pittsburgh, DUI enforcement around the holidays in increasingly imposed. The night before Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve usually sees the highest rate of drunk driving arrests over the course of a year, but “holiday weekends,” those days leading up to Labor Day and Memorial Day, can be a gold mine for police on the prowl for people who are driving over the legal limit. Of course, these types of holidays are often centered on family, friends, eating, and drinking. And because Memorial Day marks the beginning of the summer season, there are people who overindulge and make bad decisions. In addition, DUI checkpoints can catch many people who may not feel intoxicated, but are technically over the legal BAC limit. At The Law Offices of Gary E. Gerson, we receive many phone calls during the days shortly after Memorial Day from people who made a mistake, got behind the wheel, and are now looking for redemption. Aside from DUI checkpoints, police often utilize what’s known as “roving DUI patrols.” This is a method whereby police constantly patrol areas around parks and bars where drunk drivers are assumed to be found, then tail them looking for erratic driving behaviors. Checkpoints are usually strategically placed by police where they assume they can catch the drunkest drivers. This includes highway off-ramp exits, main roads near areas heavily surrounded by bars, and in open areas where they can monitor subjects who attempt to get out of line or hastily turn around before being questioned. At the actual stop, police may ask to see your driver’s license and look inside your vehicle. Their job is to evaluate whether or not you’ve been drinking. If the officer is suspicious that you may be over the legal limit, you may be asked to pull over and perform a field sobriety test or submit to a Breathalyzer test. Various things can happen during a DUI case. Sometimes, when the drunk driving arrest occurs around a holiday or holiday weekend, a judge can be more lenient toward DUI arrestees. If you have been arrested for DUI over Memorial Day weekend, then please call Attorney Gary Gerson today for a free preliminary consultation and learn about your options. Everyone makes mistakes and Attorney Gerson believes people deserve a second chance. Don’t end up losing your license and withstanding the embarrassment that comes with a DUI conviction, call Mr. Gerson at 412-219-6875 today.