Attending a Super Bowl Party? How to Avoid a DUI
As a Pennsylvania DUI lawyer, I see a spike in drunk driving arrests each year around this time. Super Bowl Sunday is notorious for alcohol-related car accidents and traffic fatalities. As a result, the Pennsylvania State Police as well as local Montgomery County police departments will be out in full force to catch those who opt to drink and drive following the Super Bowl. Hundreds of extra officers will be patrolling the PA roads and conducting sobriety checkpoints throughout the state.
A DUI conviction in Pennsylvania is costly and can result in serious penalties. Even first-time DUI offenders are subject to harsh penalties, including hefty fines, loss of your driver’s license, increased car insurance premiums, a criminal record, mandatory drug and alcohol counseling, and jail time.
Avoid a DUI this Super Bowl Sunday by adhering to the following tips:
Tips for Those Attending a Super Bowl Party in PA
If you are attending a Super Bowl party or watching the game at a local PA sports bar or restaurant, following these guidelines can help ensure that you enjoy Super Bowl XLVI responsibly:
- Designate a sober driver before the party begins
- Pace yourself - avoid drinking alcohol too fast, eat enough food, take breaks, and alternate with non-alcoholic drinks
- If you don't have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride; call a cab, friend or family member to come get you; or just stay where you are and sleep it off until you are sober
- Add the numbers for local cab companies to your cell phone before you go out
- Always buckle up - it's your best defense on the PA roads
If you are hosting a Super Bowl party in PA:
- Check to make sure all of your guests have a designated sober driver before the game starts and/or help arrange a sober ride-share for your guests
- Come up with ways to recognize the designated drivers at your party: give them "premium seating" - the best places in the house to watch the game; make sure their non-alcoholic beverage is consistently filled up; allow them first access to the buffet; etc.
- Serve plenty of food
- Offer a variety of non-alcoholic beverage choices such as soda, juice and water
- Only serve alcohol to guests who are 21 or over
Download Our Free DUI Handbook
Our comprehensive DUI Handbook is now available as a FREE download. The DUI Handbook explains every aspect of the Pennsylvania DUI process. You’ll learn your legal rights and what to expect in and out of the courtroom, allowing you to be better prepared throughout the progression of your case. Topics covered in our DUI Handbook include PA’s DUI Law, legal defense strategies, DUI penalties, Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (commonly referred to as ARD), and expungement of your criminal record. Download our free DUI Handbook now.
Jason B. Martin is a Pennsylvania attorney and the founder of The Martin Law Firm, P.C., located in Blue Bell, Montgomery County, PA. Visit our home page to view our practice areas, and contact The Martin Law Firm today for a free consultation.