Drunk driving is a dangerous and deadly activity that claims the lives of thousands of people every year. To protect the lives of residents and visitors alike, police in the Florida Keys don’t mess around when it comes to drunk driving. A DUI charge doesn’t magically go away because you live in another county or state. That’s why it’s essential to get help from a highly qualified law firm like Hutchison & Tubiana if you get arrested for a DUI in the Florida Keys. However, it’s better to avoid these situations entirely. Here are four ways to avoid a DUI when vacationing in the Florida Keys.
Pick a Responsible Designated Driver
Depending on your group of friends, you can have one person who agrees to be the designated driver for the evening. Some people don’t like drinking a whole lot, which makes them the perfect choice for this responsibility. Keep in mind that it’s a responsibility. You don’t want to choose a friend who says they won’t drink but falls off the wagon by the end of the night. And remember that you need enough designated drivers for everyone. You don’t want to end up with a situation where a group of 12 people is all expecting one person to be the designated driver. Check out some tips for helping you stick with the designated driver plan.
Call an Uber or Taxi
Besides, “don’t drive drunk,” the second most obvious piece of advice about drunk driving is to “call an Uber.” It may seem cliche, but using a taxi or ride-hailing service is one of the easiest ways to avoid a DUI if you had too much to drink. A ride with a cab, Uber, or Lyft may cost you money, but the price of a trip is far lower than all of the court costs, fees, and other troubles that come with getting a DUI. Even a first time DUI can cost you up to $1,000.
Eat Something While Drinking
When police officers are testing to see if you’re over the legal limit, they measure your blood alcohol content (BAC). Though it won’t prevent you from getting drunk if you have too much alcohol, eating while your drink will help slow down the intake of alcohol into your system. When you drink on an empty stomach, the alcohol is absorbed more quickly, and your blood alcohol content rises at a faster rate than if you are eating. Remember, the legal limit for most people is 0.08 percent BAC. When it only takes a hundredth of a percent to put you over the limit, every little bit counts.
Drink at the Hotel
Key West is known for being a great place to party, but there’s no rule saying you need to go somewhere to have a party. One of the best ways for vacationers to avoid a DUI is to save the heavy drinking until they get back to their hotel. Now that you have nowhere to drive, everyone can enjoy themselves without worrying about how they are going to get to bed. You can have a few drinks while you’re out on the town, just remember to keep it minimal until you’re in a safe place to cut loose. Besides, drunk tourists in public areas are easy targets for criminals, so saving the Tequila shots until you’re safely at the hotel is safer in more ways than one.
As we said in the introduction, the best option is never to drive drunk. However, if you find yourself facing a DUI charge, you need to get the best lawyer. Hutchison & Tubiana has more than 35 years of experience in representing individuals who have been charged with DUI offenses. We have a proven track of securing the innocence of our clients by employing effective and creative defense strategies. These techniques have resulted in countless dismissal of charges before trial, as well as many defense verdicts after jury and judge trials.
If you or someone you know needs help from a DUI attorney in South Florida, send us a message online to schedule a consultation.
