September 2, 2020
Labor Day Weekend is coming up in just a few days. You may have annual traditions that accompany the holiday – like a picnic or time spent at the lake. Certainly, a three-day weekend is an opportunity to enjoy a few beers or some wine without needing to worry about work on Monday morning.
But as you celebrate, remember that Indiana law enforcement agencies also have traditions. Specifically, for more than 20 years now, state and local authorities have participated in the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign starting in the weeks leading up to Labor Day and running through the extended weekend. This year will be no different.
News articles about the campaign note that law enforcement will be using a range of strategies to catch alleged drunk drivers, including unmarked cars, DUI checkpoints and high-visibility DUI patrols. They’ll be looking for drivers over age 21 who have a blood-alcohol concentration at or above 0.08 percent. But they may also be arresting drivers with a lower BAC if those drivers show signs of impairment. And if you’re under age 21, remember that you can be arrested with a blood-alcohol concentration at or above just 0.02 percent.
To be sure, drunk driving is physically dangerous as well as illegal. In 2018, nearly 4,000 alcohol-impaired crashes on Indiana roads claimed 83 lives. Approximately 48 of those crashes and one fatality occurred during the Labor Day enforcement period that year.
If you’ll be drinking, please plan alternative transportation such as a designated driver, cab, bus or rideshare service. Even if you drink moderately and ensure that you are under the legal limit, you may still be pulled over due to heavier-than-usual police presence on the roads.
During periods of increased enforcement, there is always the risk that police will make mistakes and violate the rights of drivers who haven’t broken the law. If you find yourself facing DUI or any other criminal charges this weekend, please contact our firm to discuss your rights and legal options with one of our skilled attorneys.