More NYE DUI Arrests in 2014

As everyone rang in 2015, a new year that hopefully promises better, greater, and more than last year, there were quite a few people who began the new year with a shiny, new arrest.

In fact, there were more DUI arrests as the calendar turned to 2015 than there were just one year ago. The state of Oregon continues to battle drunk driving with saturation patrols and harsh penalties for a DUI, but all of this was not enough to keep drunk drivers off the road.

No, instead 37 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence, while 29 were arrested for the same crime last year. What is most disheartening about this crime is it is completely avoidable.

Drunk driving can, and should be, avoided

It is encouraged for every citizen, in Oregon and all over the United States, to plan ahead for your night out. If you are going out you should plan to have a designated sober driver, and if that is not a possibility, you should spend the extra few dollars and take a taxi home. In several places, if you have never used it, your first ride using Uber of Lyft can be free, as long as your trip is within a certain number of miles. It is always important to prepare to be safe, but it is especially important on holidays.

Many holidays are celebrated with a few drinks, and some have a few more than others, and some have a few more than that. No matter how many drinks you choose to have, if you are going to have any you should plan to find a safe ride home. Just one drink can alter your reaction times and that can make it very unsafe for you to drive, and alertness might not even matter as much if the other driver is also considerably intoxicated.

These are all things to take into consideration if you want to arrive home safely. Even thinking that just because you are close to home, and taking side streets, can be hazardous to your safety, and the safety of those around you.

As we continue through this new year, we encourage everyone to drive safely. Keep the New Year as happy and promising as you thought it would be when you were counting down to midnight. Getting a DUI can be extremely expensive, and it can damage your future.

A DUI in Oregon comes with several harsh penalties, and one of those penalties will hopefully prevent you from getting an additional DUI. That penalty is your Ignition Interlock Device, a tool that prevents you from starting your vehicle if you have had too much to drink. An Ignition Interlock Device can also be installed on a voluntary basis if you are worried that you may try to drink and drive.

We hope your new year did not get off to negative start, and we hope your year continues to be positive and productive. If your year did get off to a rocky start, we can help you get back on the road with one of our Ignition Interlocks. If you need an Ignition Interlock Device in Oregon, give us a call, and we will help you get back on the road.