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Many people ask do you take a risk when you take a drink? Often times people believe that one drink won’t hurt them. However, one drink sometimes turns into two or three. Then the answer is quite different. If you are pulled over by a police officer and you have liquor on your breath, chances ae you will be arrested, your license will be suspended, and you will incur huge financial hardships as a consequence of your one drink. So, the answer is yes, having one drink is very risky.

The end of the year is a time to reflect on memories, achievements, successes, and shortcomings while anticipating the commencement of a new year. It is also a time to celebrate with family and friends and as a result, more alcohol related accidents tend to occur during this time of year, especially in suburban areas. Since Suffolk and Nassau County do not have a 24-hour public transportation system as up to par as New York City, more drivers are prone to get behind the wheel of a vehicle as opposed to calling a cab. There a few legal risks that occur when mixing drinking and driving and they are as follows:

1. NY state enacted a “Zero Tolerance” law in 1996 which applies to individuals who are under the age of 21, operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .02. At the least, an individual’s license will be suspended for 6 months and there are penalty fees that must be paid.

2.  Individuals who are over the age of 21 and operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher can face anywhere between 1 year and 7 years in jail with a minimum revocation of a license between 6 months to 19 months. If there is more than one offense, the court may suspend the license indefinitely.

3. Many innocent lives have been lost as a result to drinking while intoxicated. According to a New York Times article, Suffolk and Nassau County lead New York State when it come alcohol related crashes, alcohol related fatal crashes and the number of people killed in those crashes.

With New Year’s Eve right around the corner, is it expected that law enforcement officials will be patrolling areas highly populated with bars and restaurants. It is the right and obligation of these officials to protect the welfare and safety of civilians and to take the necessary steps to prevent more DWI accidents and fatalities.

Larry McCord, Esq.

Larry McCord and Associates, LLC

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