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April 16, 2019
16 Apr 2019

Remain Silent: DUI Stop

When you are stopped on suspicion of a DUI, the police have just that to go on— suspicion. Suspicion of a DUI only means that they have a notion of your condition. The way you react, communicate, and carry yourself can go on to incriminate you, and lead to a DUI charge. This is why it’s important that you remain silent. Furthermore, avoid doing or saying things that will hurt your case, and don’t admit fault. Just like with an auto accident, admitting fault can be deadly to your case and the future of your driving career… 

Remain Silent: Strengthening your DUI Case 

Incriminating yourself 

You might not realize how easy it is to incriminate yourself during a DUI stop. While the officer has a reason to believe that you’re driving under the influence, they also have absolutely no clue as to what really caused that behavior. Maybe you were feeling sick, your contact fell out, or you simply made a simple mistake and swerved a bit. When an officer comes to your window— the things you say next are what go on to help your case, or theirs. Therefore, remain silent. 

Don’t answer leading questions 

We don’t encourage you to lie to the police. In fact, doing so is never going to improve your chances of walking away safely. However, not saying anything can be a strong option. Especially if you have been drinking, and aren’t sure of your BAC— it’s best that you avoid answering questions. By doing so, you might make yourself look worse than you already do. You know that you likely will not pass a breathalyzer, and will receive a DUI. However, by choosing to remain silent, you better your chances of avoiding a harsher penalty. 

Furthermore, when an officer asks you how much you’ve had to drink— it’s best that you don’t answer. You might not realize, but you don’t have to blow a .08 to receive a DWI. In fact, if you are acting intoxicated, admit to heavy drinking, and don’t blow a .08— you still are at risk of a charge. 

In short, keep your mouth close when it comes to the topic of your drinking before hitting the road 

You drank and drove, which is not ideal— and you will likely still face some penalty. However, by not talking to police, you can better your chances of a heavier sentence. We encourage you to invoke your right to remain silent, not do field sobriety tests, and handle the situation with ease. Remember that you are on camera— and actions speak quite loudly. 

in DUI & DWI, Felony DUI /by /#permalink
April 5, 2019
05 Apr 2019

Impairment & BAC

Many drivers know that .08 is the legal limit of intoxication. Therefore, it’s illegal to drive at this point and doing so may land you a DUI. However, many drivers don’t realize that impairment begins long before you reach a BAC of .08. In fact, your driving skills can become impaired at just .02. Therefore, it’s important to understand your impairment level at each stage in order to avoid getting behind the wheel when it’s not safe. 

Impairment & BAC: Understanding your Limits

.02 BAC

At a BAC of .02, you barely have any alcohol in your system. However, that doesn’t mean it hasn’t already began effecting your impairment level. Around this point, most people begin to loosen up and relax. With this relaxation, many people lose some of their sound judgment. In addition, a BAC of .02 also already takes a minor physical effect on the impairment level. Some people experience reduced visual abilities, meaning they may have trouble tracking a moving object or focuses on two things at once.

.05 BAC 

As your BAC rises, your impairment level does as well. That means symptoms of the above impairment level become more pronounced, while new symptoms begin. For example, visual abilities and judgment only get worse at the .05 impairment level. In addition, new problems come about such as lowered alertness, reduced coordination, and the loss of small- muscle control. At this point, many skills you use to operate and drive a vehicle have become impaired.

.08 BAC 

Once you reach the legal intoxication level of .08, many of those skills you use to function become dull. For example, you may have trouble with balance, speech, vision, and reaction time. In addition to that loss of muscle coordination, your judgement and reasoning also gets worse at this impairment level. People typically have a harder time detecting danger, lose self-control, and suffer from mild memory loss.

Slower Reaction Time

One of the most dangerous aspects that compounds through each level of impairment is reaction time. When operating a vehicle, it’s crucial to be able to react quickly. You may need to hit the brakes, swerve around an object, and change directions within a moment’s notice. However, beginning at the earlier impairment level of .02, drivers begin losing their reaction time. Once you reach the point of legal intoxication, your reaction time will become drastically delayed. 

in Drinking, DUI & DWI /by /#permalink
April 2, 2019
02 Apr 2019

Alcohol Myths

There are plenty of myths surrounding alcohol. Many people stick to certain drinking habits and practices, believing them to be true. However, this can lead you to have some unsafe drinking habits. So, it’s important to know what’s fact and what’s false when it comes to these alcohol myths. 

Alcohol Myths: Understanding Your Beverage

Myth #1: I Can Sober Up Quickly 

One of the most common alcohol myths is the idea that you can sober up quickly. Many people believe they can drink all night, then rapidly become sober enough to drive. For instance, some people may drink black coffee, take cold showers, or eat greasy food. However, none of these alcohol myths will actually help you sober up, though you may feel a little more alert. Instead, only time and rest will help you become sober. 

Myth #2: Beer Before Liquor, Never Been Sicker 

Many people believe that the type and order of alcohol you drink, makes you sick. For instance, the phrase says that drinking beer, then switching to liquor will make for an uneasy stomach. However, how muchyou drink has more to do with how sick you become. If you drink a lot, especially in a short amount of time, you can bet you’ll become nauseous. 

Myth #3: Blacking Out Isn’t a Big Deal

For those that drink past their limits, they may find themselves blacking out. This occurs when someone drinks too much, then eventually just falls asleep. However, this isn’t a normal sleep. Instead, it takes place because alcohol has slowed down the person’s breathing and heart rate.This can be dangerous, since some extreme cases can cause the breathing to stop completely. When it comes to alcohol myths, it’s important to realize that blacking out isn’t normal or safe. It indicates that a person has had far too much to drink and is reaching dangerous levels of intoxication. 

 Myth #4: I Can Still Manage to Drive

Possibly the most dangerous of all alcohol myths, many people believe they are still okay to drive after just a few drinks. However, alcohol affects each person differently. This means many people will become too intoxicated to drive safely, sometimes after just two drinks. Therefore, it’s important to know your own limits and responses to alcohol. In doing so, you can avoid a DWI or a dangerous drunk driving accident.

in Drinking, DUI & DWI /by /#permalink
March 23, 2019
23 Mar 2019

Warm Weather Beers: From Dark to Light

As warm weather approaches, we begin making plans with our friends to spend time outside. We want to soak up some of some much needed vitamin C and celebrate Spring. Outdoor activities come in all forms, but for many legal age drinkers in Charlotte— brewery and bar patios are calling our names. When it’s Winter time, we often turn to darker beers and warmer flavors. However, as those chilly days turn warm— our palates begin to shift. Warm weather beers are typically lighter, more crisp, and a bit more refreshing. While you know you want to turn towards the light— you might not know of any good beers to turn to. In that case, we’re here to help. 

Warm Weather Beers: Lighter, More Crisp, and Cool 

Pilsners, Pale Ales, and Kolsch

When it comes to lighter beers, there are plenty of options. Especially if you want to go local, many breweries focus in on those lighter, hoppy profiles— such as Sycamore. If you look at a beer list and get a bit overwhelmed, look for these few words: pale ale, pilsner, kolsch, and wheat. These are going to be refreshing, mostly light, and the perfect warm weather beers. A few things to keep in mind with each of these: Pale ales and IPA’s are going to be a bit more on the hoppy side, which isn’t for everyone. Some people prefer hops in the warm weather, and some say ‘too bitter and dry’. Furthermore, with wheat beers, many people say that they sit too heavy on their stomach— which is a valid point. Wheat beers are thicker, and do have the tendency to feel heavier. Every person, and palate, is different. 

The color is a good indication 

Not every dark or light beer is going to taste heavy or light. However, it’s a pretty good place to start. Some porters will taste light, just like some IPA’s or wheat beers will sit on your stomach much like a stout. Every beer is different, especially when you’re drinking local. So, while it isn’t always a great tell— start with the color. Understand that typically the darker the beer— the heavier the beer is going to be. Warm weather beers are almost always going to be lighter in color, and flavor.

When in doubt, request a sample 

The beautiful thing about going to a bar or brewery— is that you have the option to try before you buy (when it comes to draft beer only, of course). If you know that the beer you want is on draft, ask for a sample. Most every bartender will happily oblige to a tasting once or twice— just don’t ask to sample the whole tap system… If you think you want a beer, but aren’t quite sure yet, sample it and go from there. You never know, one of those samples might turn out to be your new go-to out of all the warm weather beers. 

in Drinking, DUI & DWI /by /#permalink
March 14, 2019
14 Mar 2019

St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl: Crawling Smart

St. Patrick’s Day is upon us, and for most (legal age) people in Charlotte and the surrounding areas— that means one thing in particular: Rich and Bennett’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day bar crawl. Saturday, March 16th is a day that most twenty and thirty- somethings have had written down in their calendars for some time now. The objective of the day is simple: good drinks, good company, and a long day of drinking in all of your favorite spots. However, there is a certain set of methods you should follow to ensure a day of fun, rather than being sick by 2:00 p.m. and back home while your friends crawl… 

St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl in the QC: Crawling Smart & Getting Home Safe

1: Kick crawl day off with a hearty meal 

There’s no more important piece to your St. Patrick’s Day bar crawl puzzle than a hearty plate of food in the morning. Consider french toast, hash browns, avocado toast, or a big breakfast sandwich. Many people will decide to go light because they want to feel what they’re drinking. However, when it comes to a day of bar crawling— take it slow. The crawl runs from 12:00 to 10:00 p.m.. Don’t take yourself out of the race too quickly. 

2: Don’t start with liquor

While the drink specials set for the St. Patrick’s Day bar crawl leave room for you to spend plenty of money on liquor— consider letting liquor take a backseat on the early leg of your crawl. Getting your money’s worth out of the bar crawl— and also making it last, likely will not start with a liquor diet. Have a good breakfast, start with a low ABV beer— like those green aluminum Bud Light cans…

3: Keep your friends close 

There will come a time in every crawlers day that the alcohol catches up to them. It’s important that you are not all by your lonesome when that time comes. The St. Patrick’s Day bar crawl puts you in a unique situation to be surrounded by people who are feeling just like you. However, it also presents an easy opportunity for those preying on drunk people. Whether it be to rob you, kidnap you, or something else— being drunk and on your own is always a recipe for disaster. Make it your rule of thumb to stick in groups of at least two, preferably three or more. 

4: Make end-of-the-night plans

When you make plans for the St. Patrick’s Day bar crawl festivities, make your evening plans part of it. Whether those plans include finding a place to stay in the city, designating a driver, taking the light Rail, a cab, Uber, Lyft… The key is to make plans, and stick with them until the end. By doing so, you are taking one extra step towards avoiding issue or DUI. 

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