After the end of summer, when everyone is back in school, there aren't a lot of seasonal celebrations for adults to let loose. At the end of October, kids and adults can get excited about Halloween. For children, Halloween is a chance to dress up and load up on candy. For adults, Halloween can be just as fun but there are some additional risks when driving to or from costume parties. 

Too much candy can give a kid a tummy ache but too much alcohol for an adult can land them in the back of a police car. If you overindulged on Halloween and got arrested for drunk driving, talk to an experienced California DUI defense attorney to find out your legal options. Contact East Bay DUI defense lawyer Lynn Gorelick today.

Drunk Driving Statistics for Halloween

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), from 2017 to 2021, there were 159 people killed in drunk driving accidents on Halloween night. In 2020 alone, 58 people were killed on Halloween night in drunk driving crashes.

This year, Halloween falls on a Tuesday, October 31st, 2023. That means there may be additional police patrols looking for impaired drivers starting the weekend before, from Friday, October 27 to Sunday, October 29, in addition to Tuesday night patrols. Law enforcement may look for impaired drivers at about the time Halloween parties die down when people are leaving areas with a lot of bars or parties. 

Drinking and Driving Arrests on Halloween Night

Halloween is just as much a kid's holiday as for adults. It is the only time during the year when it may be "normal" for adults to dress up in costume or hide behind a mask. Many of these adult holiday parties are complemented by drinking wine, beer, and holiday-themed punch. It can be hard to know how many drinks someone has when drinking plastic cups of punch that no one knows the ingredients. 

The NHTSA recommends party hosts help take steps to keep partygoers safe, including: 

• Serve non-alcoholic drinks and plenty of food options
• Collect keys from guests who are drinking
• Prepare to call taxis, rideshares, or sober rides home

Dangers of Injury DUIs on Halloween

There is a greater risk of drivers getting involved in injury accidents on Halloween night, even for sober drivers. Neighborhoods are filled with children in dark clothing roaming the streets. Excited children may run out from behind a parked car or not look both ways for crossing cars. Even if a driver is just about at the legal limit and hits a kid who appeared out of nowhere, the driver will likely face DUI charges—or worse. 

With the already dangerous traffic conditions on Halloween night, don't take on the additional stress of drinking and driving. Plan for a safe ride home. If you do end up under arrest, make sure you contact an experienced Oakland DUI defense attorney for a strong legal defense. 

DUI Defense Attorney for Oakland Drivers

If you were arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in Oakland after a Halloween party, call an experienced DUI defense attorney for help. East Bay attorney Lynn Gorelick has more than 40 years of California DUI defense experience and understands the consequences of a drunk driving conviction for young people. Contact East Bay DUI defense lawyer Lynn Gorelick today.