Jacksonville DUI Attorneys Available for The Holiday

Holidays are a great time of the year for fun and enjoyment, but when you have had too much to drink, call a cab or get a designated driver. This holiday season, we want you to be safe and accident-free. Many of us will indulge in after-hours company parties and get-togethers with friends and family. Unfortunately, alcohol is usually involved.  The last thing most of us have on our minds during this festive time is getting pulled over by the police, or even worse, being involved in an accident. If alcohol is present or even suspected, you are at considerable risk of going to jail and maybe having your life changed forever. Failing to take precautions is a mistake that could ruin your holiday spirit.

December is one of the biggest months for DUI arrests, due to holiday festivities and drivers who are impaired. More drivers are on the road between Thanksgiving and News Year’s Eve than at any other time of the year. While we’re enjoying the magic and joy of the holiday season, police are looking to take advantage of those increased opportunities to arrest drivers who are operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Alcohol is not the only substance that can affect one’s ability to operate a motor vehicle safely. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 29 people are involved in alcohol-related traffic deaths each day, but it is estimated that drugs and marijuana are now involved in 16% of all motor vehicle crashes. It is also estimated that 13% of all weekend, nighttime drivers have marijuana in their systems. The annual cost of drug and alcohol-related crashes totals more than 40 billion dollars.

In 2017, more than one million drivers in the United States were arrested for driving under the influence of either alcohol or drugs. However, just because you have had a glass of wine or a couple of alcoholic beverages over the course of an evening, does not mean you are too impaired to drive. Consumption is one thing, impairment is another.

Hire the Right Attorney to Protect Your Rights

At Fallgatter Catlin & Varon P.A. we protect the rights of individuals accused of DUI every day. Our criminal defense attorneys, Curtis Fallgatter and Lisa Varon have been involved in hundreds of DUI cases spanning over four decades of criminal law practice in Jacksonville FL. Curtis’s extensive legal background includes being a former federal prosecutor, and the Chief Assistant in the U.S. Attorney’s office for 17 years.  Lisa practiced as an Assistant Public Defender in the Fourth Judicial Circuit for more than 10 years. Between them, they have over 50 years of knowledge and experience in practicing criminal law.

As DUI attorneys, Curtis and Lisa recommend that individuals detained by the police and questioned about their alcohol or drug consumption understand their legal rights. If you have consumed alcohol or any drugs, prescription or non-prescription, prior to operating a motor vehicle, and do not believe it is in your best interest to perform a Field Sobriety Test, answer questions, or submit to a breath or urine test, here are a few simple statements you can make to the police:

1. I am not willing to answer any questions without my lawyer present and my attorney is Curtis Fallgatter.
2. I have a pre-existing condition or injury and a general lack of coordination, which could affect my ability to perform the field sobriety exercises, and therefore I decline to take them.
3. I am not willing to submit to a breath or urine test because of their inaccuracies and false readings.
4. This is my name, address, driver’s license, vehicle registration, and insurance card.

Being accused of a crime is a very serious matter that should not be taken lightly. Having a legal representative to protect your rights is your best chance in protecting those rights. At Fallgatter Catlin & Varon P.A. we offer free consultations for all criminal cases. Give us a call at 904-353-5800 and have one of our attorneys review the facts in your case.