More than half of all families that host Halloween parties intend on having alcohol at their events. If guests drive home after a night of imbibing, they might find themselves on the wrong side of the law. Driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Minnesota is a serious offense with severe penalties and long-lasting effects. What’s more, the number of DWIs issued on Halloween is higher compared to other weekends in October.
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More DWI Arrests on Halloween
Due to the higher number of drunk drivers on the road, the rates of DWI arrests are higher as well. More children get out during Halloween than any other weekend in October. These children run across roads to get candy from different houses in the area. This is a deadly combination. Children have a two times higher risk of getting killed by a vehicle if they are crossing roads during Halloween night.
Many of these motorists are likely driving while intoxicated. Drunk drivers cause around 45% of all traffic deaths during Halloween. The fatality risk is also higher among teenagers and college students. In fact, half of all intoxicated drivers who got killed during Halloween in 2011 were men aged from 21 to 34 years.
Heavy Police Presence on Minneapolis Roads During Halloween
Law enforcement officers are aware that the rates of deadly crashes are likely to be high on Halloween night because of the many intoxicated drivers on the road. For this reason, Minneapolis police departments increase the amount of surveillance they discharge on Halloween night. Police officers may pull over a driver and ask him or her a couple of questions if they notice the following red flags.
- Driving too fast
- Excessive swerving
- Wide right turns
- Ignoring turn signals
- Using incorrect headlights
Once police officers have a valid reason to pull a driver over on a Halloween night, they may require that driver to submit to a chemical test under the DRE protocol. If the driver fails that test, the driver may be arrested and charged with DWI before he or she can cause any harm.
A DWI lawyer will often guide a driver arrested for DWI through questions that officers ask at the local police department. The lawyer may also help the driver avoid a conviction by using evidence and statements from witnesses to disprove evidence from the prosecution office.
