As the days tick down towards St Patrick's Day 2011, many folks in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area are solidifying their plans for the high-spirited holiday. While you don't have to be Irish to have fun on St Patty's, Phoenix's large population of Celtic-blooded citizens certainly heightens the fervor surrounding March 17.
St Patrick's Day is associated with celebration fueled by Irish enthusiasm. Because of this, it fosters an accepting atmosphere for overindulgence. Unfortunately, this forgiving environment does not extend to police enforcement of drunk driving. In fact, Phoenix-area law enforcement will be adding patrolmen and aggressively pursuing drivers who they suspect may have had a few drinks too many before taking to the road.
As Phoenix residents join much of the country in celebration of St Patrick and all things Irish, the local police will actively participate in the national Impaired Driving Prevention Campaign. While the campaign's focus is on the prevention of drunk driving, the greater goal is to prevent tragedy. Accordingly, police will be making many arrests for DUI offenses in hopes of lowering the injury and death toll on Arizona roadways.
DUI Arrests on St Patrick's Day
Fair or not, some peoples' festivities will abruptly end with a night in jail. Since St Patrick's Day falls on a Thursday, these folks will run the risk of missing work on Friday. For those accused of DUI, their worries will extend past their release from jail as they face an immediate suspension of drivers' license. Depending on the specific situation, a looming court date also presents the prospect of losing a lot of green, a lengthy license suspension, mandatory counseling, installment of an ignition interlock device and a jail sentence.
In Phoenix, those charged with DUI must act quickly by making a timely request for a MVD hearing and by creating a sound defense strategy. Failing to briskly take action will result in a forfeiture of rights and potentially subject the accused to the strictest DUI penalties under Arizona law. If your St Patrick's Day festivities end in a DUI arrest, the wisest move is to contact an experienced DUI attorney to discuss your options.
