You can expect the police to be out in full force this New Year’s Eve. Most people celebrate the holiday by drinking, and the cops will be particularly vigilant to see if anyone has driven while intoxicated.
Last year alone, Minnesota police arrested 117 people across the state for DUI. Even if you think you can get yourself home, you always want to play it safe and find another way. Here are some tips for having an enjoyable New Year’s Eve that does not end with a trip to the police station.
Plan an alternative ahead of time
After drinking a bit, you may not be in the right state of mind to contact a taxi or hail an Uber. If you know you will drink this evening, then you need to have a way to get home and plan it out ahead of time. This can include having someone in your party be the designated driver. It is better to be safe than sorry. Even if you only plan on having one or two beers, you still want to avoid getting behind the wheel.
Know your route
In the event you do not plan on drinking but will be out somewhere, then you still need to know the route you should take to get home. When you are in an unfamiliar part of town, you may slow down or stop suddenly to find an exit. The police will pull you over for these actions because they will think you are a drunk driver.
Communicate with friends
You may be savvy enough to know not to drive after drinking, but you should keep an eye on your friends, too. When you plan on going out as a group, you should talk to one another about what you each plan on doing afterward. Perhaps someone can stay the night at your house so that they do not have to drive to theirs. A plan like this can save everyone a lot of hassle down the road.
