Drunk driving arrests tend to surge in Pennsylvania and around the country during the summer months as more Americans take to the roads after consuming alcohol at barbeques, sporting events and family gatherings. To combat this rise in intoxicated driving, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched a public awareness and law enforcement initiative called “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” and many police departments in the Keystone State are taking part.
In Lower Merion Township, police officers conducted DUI patrols throughout July to deter drunk driving and apprehend motorists who got behind the wheel after drinking or taking drugs. The Lower Merion Township Police Department paid for the effort with a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Road safety advocacy groups like the Pennsylvania DUI Association say this kind of action is needed to stem a rise in drunk driving deaths. Figures from the nonprofit group reveal that the number of Pennsylvania road users killed in accidents involving intoxicated drivers rose from 293 in 2017 to 331 in 2018.
Drivers who would prefer to avoid a drunk driving charge are encouraged by NHTSA to appoint a designated driver or use a ride-sharing or taxi service to get home. The federal safety watchdog also reminds motorists that they can face criminal charges if they drive after consuming controlled substances or some prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications.
Criminal defense attorneys with experience in drunk driving cases usually seek to have DUI charges dismissed by questioning the validity of police stops or challenging the reliability of BAC evidence, but there are situations where their clients admit to drinking and driving. In these situations, attorneys may mount an affirmative defense such as necessity or involuntary intoxication. Necessity could be argued when not getting behind the wheel after drinking would lead to a greater harm, and an involuntary intoxication defense may be mounted when drivers consumed intoxicating substances unknowingly or were unaware of the effect they would have.
