Drennan Law Firm's Blog

When you plan a night out for drinking, one thing you have to be cautious of is how much alcohol you have. The number of drinks matters, as does the percentage of alcohol and the way your body is metabolizing it.

It's not always simple to know your limit, which is why it's advisible to stop drinking an hour or two before you intend to leave an event. Additionally, it's a smart choice to carry a smartphone Breathalyzer or a pocket-sized breath test to guarantee that you're legal to drive.

You have never gotten a DUI before, but you are well aware that the legal limit is 0.08%. You have to keep your blood alcohol concentration under that level or you could face charges.

You do everything you can to adhere to that rule. You pay attention to how much you drink. You learn about how fast your BAC can rise and fall. You find out exactly how different the alcohol content can be from one drink to the next. You even buy yourself a small breath test to use if you think you're close.

In the state of South Carolina, it's legal for police to set up a DUI checkpoint. As scary as it may be, when you take the right approach, you put yourself in position to avoid an arrest.

There are a variety of mistakes that people often make at a DUI checkpoint. The following five are among the most common:

• Open alcohol container: If an officer spots an open alcohol container in your vehicle, you can be sure they assume that you've been drinking. Also, as a driver, it's your responsibility to make sure your passengers don't open alcohol in your car.
• Erratic driving: As your nerves kick in, you may pump your brakes, move from lane to lane and even come to a stop while you process what's happening. All of these things look suspicious and will attract the attention of the officers at the checkpoint.
• Talking back: Telling an officer they're wasting your time or doing something illegal is a huge mistake. Even if you're not arrested for DUI, you could run into a variety of other charges if you become too aggressive.
• Attempting to drive through the checkpoint: Yes, you have legal rights as a driver, but you're required to stop at a checkpoint. You're not permitted to drive through it, ignoring the officer's call to stop, just because you think it's against the law (it isn't).
• Illegal U-turn: You're not required by law to go through a DUI checkpoint. While you're permitted to make a U-turn, it must be done in accordance with the law. If an officer spots you violating the law, they're likely to pull you over. This can lead to a traffic ticket for the illegal U-turn, as well as a closer look into your sobriety.

Speeding and DUIs are some of the most common moving violations in the U.S. Both have the potential to threaten your license, especially if you are speeding while intoxicated.

There are different levels of penalties for those who commit these varying degrees of crimes. For example, if you speed 5 mph over the limit, you'll face lower penalties than someone speeding 15 or more mph over the limit. Excessive speeding could even lead to accusations of street racing, which could result in a misdemeanor, the loss of your license and fines.