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Beware: Halloween Is the Night of the Drunk-Driving Task Force

By Christopher Coble, Esq. on October 25, 2018 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Police often step up their drunk driving enforcement around holidays. That only makes sense -- more people tend to drink before, during, and after holiday celebrations, and keeping them off the road keeps everyone safe. One tactic is scaring people off drunk driving before they get behind the wheel. So police departments nationwide are announcing their Halloween drunk driving task forces.

"As always, the best choice someone can make, should they plan on consuming alcoholic beverages, is to find some other form of transportation that does not involve them operating a motor vehicle," according to a statement from five Arizona law enforcement agencies teaming up to catch drunk drivers over the next week. Here are a few other helpful hints to make sure a Halloween DUI doesn't haunt your forever:

1. Don't Be Haunted by a Halloween DUI: 4 Sobering Tips

Obviously, "Don't drive and drunk" is the simplest advice to give, but it's not particularly helpful. (Otherwise we wouldn't still need drunk driving task forces.) So how about this: keep an eye on your drinking, since anything above the legal limit is, per se, illegal, meaning you can get a DUI even if you don't feel drunk or drive poorly; and avoid drugs, both illicit narcotics and prescription medication, as DUI laws punish intoxication and impairment, not just being drunk. Also, use that handy app on your phone to get a ride.

2. DUI Checkpoints on Halloween: Laws to Remember

Just about every drunk driving task force is going to employ some sobriety checkpoints. Yes, DUI checkpoints are legal, and officers are allowed to stop your car and request license, insurance, and registration information. And yes, turning around before you get to one is also legal, so long as you don't break any other traffic laws doing it. Driving erratically or otherwise ignoring traffic laws is a good way to get pulled over, checkpoint or not.

3. Halloween 101: Can I Wear a Mask While Driving?

Probably not a good idea. In some states it's flat out illegal, and other states prohibit doing anything behind the wheel that impairs your ability to drive safely. Plus, they're not that easy to see out of and may garner the wrong kind of attention from law enforcement.

Facing a DUI charge this Halloween can be scary -- contact a local DUI attorney today.

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