In Austin, we have some of the best breweries in the country. We also have a number of ride alternatives to driving impaired. The fall is a great time to get together with friends at a ballgame or one of our breweries for a beer. However, the car accident attorneys at Daniel Stark would like to remind you that that experience is not worth a DUI or someone’s life.
In Texas, your first drunk driving offense comes with a fine up to $2,000 and up to 180 days in jail. That’s nearly 6 months of your life you could be throwing away by getting behind the wheel impaired. And that’s assuming you didn’t injure or kill anyone on the road. Add vehicular homicide to the equation, and the rest of your life could look much different than you had expected.
Here are 3 tips to ensure you never find yourself in a DUI situation.
1. Know your limits. We’re not talking about how much you can drink and still remain standing. We’re talking about how much you can drink, still be under the legal limit and operate your vehicle safely. Everyone’s alcohol limit is going to be different.
2. When in doubt, use alternatives. From grabbing a cab to using a ride-sharing service, Austin has plenty of ride alternatives to get you from the bar to your home safely. Picking up your car the next day is much better than having it impounded the night before.
3. Never compromise. Set a rule for when you should or shouldn’t get behind the wheel and never break it. When you are approaching that threshold, give your keys away or go ahead and make plans for a ride alternative. You’ll be glad you did.
