As another 4th of July holiday and ensuing weekend approaches, beware of DUI checkpoints and roving patrols through the state of Pennsylvania. Even if your home county has not announced a DUI checkpoint, there will still be police patrolling the roadways. Since it is a long holiday weekend, this means increased police presence through the weekend. If you’ve had too much to drink, take a cab home. Or, even better, have a designated driver chosen before you start celebrating. Several people died in alcohol-related crashes last year around the 4th of July, according to PennDOT.
Additionally, the blood alcohol content (B.A.C.) threshold for a DUI is 0.08 or greater for adult drivers 21 years or older and just 0.02 or higher for motorists who are under the age of 21. If convicted of a DUI, the offender may be subjected to penalties such as jail time, license suspension, and fines ranging form $300.00 to $10,000.00. Always remember as well that driving under the influence of drugs may be charged as DUI as well, depending on the circumstances.