10 Tips to Help You Avoid a DUI & What to Do If You’re Charged

Have you ever worried you’ll get behind the wheel while your decision-making is skewed by alcohol? Maybe you were charged with a DUI before and want to avoid making the same mistake again. Or maybe you know someone who has been arrested for DUI and you don’t want to end up in the same situation.

A DUI arrest may be very frightening, and the implications of a conviction can be serious. It’s best to avoid being in such a situation. Let’s go over 10 tips to help you avoid a DUI.

Also, if you’re arrested for DUI, you can always count on capable DUI defense lawyers in Clemson, South Carolina from the Bateman Law Firm for all the legal help you need.

Let’s dive right in!

10 Tips To Help You Avoid a DUI

Thinking ahead can go a long way in helping you avoid a DUI arrest.

1) Make a Plan Ahead of Time

You must understand your boundaries and develop a strategy ahead of time to avoid DUI trouble. It’s usually a good idea to plan your safe return home before going out for the night. Designate a sober driver, or arrange for a cab or a ridesharing service, such as Uber or Lyft, to take you home safely (even if you don’t “feel drunk”).

2) Know Your Limits 

Knowing your alcohol tolerance level and understanding when to stop drinking might help you avoid a DUI. Be honest with yourself about your tolerance for alcohol and pace yourself properly.

Males ought to have no more than two standard drinks per hour and women shouldn’t consume more than one standard drink per hour.

3) Keep Track of Drinks and Time

It’s easy to lose track of how much you’ve consumed, especially if you’re having a good time with friends. Keeping track of things will help you prevent being too drunk to drive. One method is to alternate alcohol with non-alcoholic liquids, such as water or soda.

Coffee works too!

4) Weigh the Risks

Evaluate the potential risks before getting behind the wheel after drinking. Drunk driving can impair response time and coordination, resulting in accidents that can result in serious injury or death.

Then there are the legal consequences of DUIs. If you are convicted of a DUI, you may face fines, probation, community service, and potentially even jail time, depending on the regulations in your state.

Best to stay away from the steering wheel and avoid a DUI!

5) Eat Food While Driving

Eating decreases the rate at which your body absorbs alcohol, preventing you from becoming inebriated. This is because food in your stomach may act as a barrier, limiting the flow of alcohol from your stomach into your circulation.

a DUI conviction can have a long lasting negative impact.

6) Don’t Mix Alcohol and Drugs

Alcohol combined with other drugs, including prescription medicine, can be dangerous and increase impairment. When alcohol is used with other medicines, the effects of both are enhanced, resulting in increased drowsiness and disorientation.

7) Don’t Drive the Morning After

Even if you feel good the next morning after drinking, your blood alcohol content (BAC) may be higher than the legal limit. The time it takes your body to clear alcohol from your system is determined by factors like your weight, gender, and the amount of alcohol ingested.

8) Be Aware of Your Surroundings

Avoid situations that might lead to impaired driving at all times; this is the only for-sure way to avoid a DUI. If you know you’ll be somewhere where it might be hard to avoid having some drinks, such as a party or social event, arrange for sober transportation beforehand.

9) Use Public Transportation

Taking public transport is another effective way of avoiding a DUI. Remember that driving under the influence can have serious implications, so it’s always preferable to err on the side of caution and find a safe way home.

10) Avoid Drinking on an Empty Stomach

When you consume alcohol on an empty stomach, the alcohol is absorbed more rapidly into your system, resulting in speedier intoxication and impaired judgment. Having a meal or snack before drinking can assist decrease the absorption of alcohol into your system and lower your risk of driving while intoxicated.

In any case, never mix drinking and driving!

What to Do If You Are Pulled Over for Suspicion of DUI in South Carolina

If you are pulled over on suspicion of DUI, you should remember that you are innocent unless proven guilty.

Here’s how you should handle the situation:

  1. Maintain your cool and cooperate with the officer.
  2. Learn your legal rights – you have the right to stay silent and the right to an attorney.
  3. A DUI lawyer can help you defend your rights and give legal counsel throughout the process.

If you are arrested for DUI, you must:

  1. Attend all court hearings and comply with any court directions or requirements.
  2. Never discuss your case with anyone other than your Clemson, South Carolina DUI lawyer.
  3. Go for a plea bargain (if this is the only sensible option) for reducing charges or fines.
  4. Complete any needed alcohol education or treatment programs.
  5. Take precautions to avoid a DUI in the future, such as not drinking and driving.

Consequences of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) in South Carolina

Driving under the influence (DUI) can have serious consequences in South Carolina.

For a first-time DUI offense in South Carolina, the penalties can include:

  • A fine of up to $900
  • A jail sentence of up to 30 days
  • A license suspension of up to six months
  • Completion of an Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program (ADSAP)
  • Installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) in the driver’s vehicle

For subsequent convictions, the penalties will be harsher.

Let Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyers in Clemson Help You!

If you’ve been charged with a DUI in Clemson, an experienced Clemson, South Carolina DUI lawyer from the Bateman Law Firm can help. We’ll help you protect your rights and ensure a fair trial for you. We’ll examine the facts against you, contest the validity of the traffic stop or arrest, and negotiate with the prosecutor to lessen or remove the charges.

Working with our experienced criminal defense lawyers in Clemson, South Carolina can help you secure a favorable outcome and avoid the long-term consequences of a DUI conviction.

Reach out to us now to discuss your case further!