New Year's Day gives us a chance to get a fresh start to a new year. The last thing you want to do to start off the year is begin with a criminal conviction for drunk driving. New Year's Eve is a night known for festivities. If you plan to go out drinking over New Year's, make sure you have the contact information for an experienced California DUI defense attorney. Contact East Bay DUI defense lawyer Lynn Gorelick.

Drunk Driving Statistics for New Year's Eve

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2020, during the New Year's and Christmas period, there were 209 drunk-driving related fatalities. For all of 2020, there were 11,654 people killed in drunk driving accidents. 

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), an estimated 49% of all New Year's Day holiday period traffic fatalities involved an alcohol-impaired driver. The average over the rest of the year is 30%. 

Police Patrols on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day

During the Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP), the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and East Bay police departments will have increased saturation patrols. These officers are looking for drivers who might be impaired. There are several signs that could make a police officer suspect drunk driving, including: 

• Sudden braking

• Crossing over the centerline

• Driving too slow

• Sudden turns 

• Weaving or swerving 

• No headlights at night 

The MEPs for New Year's Eve will generally run from December 29, 2023, Friday evening at 6:01 to 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2024. During the MEPs, law enforcement arrest hundreds of impaired drivers and issue thousands of citations for speeding and other traffic violations. 

You can also expect to see sobriety checkpoints over the holiday weekend. Last year, law enforcement set up a DUI checkpoint in Oakland on Broadway, south of 19th Street on New Year's Eve.

High-Visibility Enforcement Periods for Drug DUIs

From December 15, 2023, through January 1, 2024, the NHTSA and California law enforcement are working together as part of a high-visibility enforcement period, "If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. Drive High, Get a DUI."

Most people know that driving under the influence of alcohol is against the law. However, some people are less sure about driving under the influence of legal drugs. In all states, including California, it is illegal to drive under the influence of drugs. This includes prescription drugs or medical marijuana. 

A study conducted by NHTSA from 2019 to 2021 found that about 26% of drivers injured or killed in a traffic accident had active THC in their systems. The effects of combining drugs and alcohol can intensify the effects on drivers. 

DUI Defense Attorney for Oakland Drivers

If you were arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in Oakland after a New Year's 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 drivers in Oakland and the East Bay. Contact East Bay DUI defense lawyer Lynn Gorelick today.