Looking forward to Labor Day and the three-day weekend? We certainly are, and for us it always feels like the start to summer. But before you head into the weekend, check out our top four tips for staying out of legal trouble over Labor Day weekend.
1. Call a cab or call a friend. It’s simple – don’t drink and drive. There’s always a chance that you could be stopped at an impromptu DUI police checkpoint, or that you could have a beer or two too many while enjoying Memorial Day festivities.Remember that the blood alcohol content (BAC) legal limit in Pennsylvania and throughout the country is 0.08% – and it’s always best to avoid driving if you’ve been drinking. Better yet, don’t drive at all. If you’re heading to a cookout or party, consider calling a cab or asking a sober friend to drop you off so you won’t regret this weekend later.
2.Don’t get too rowdy. If you’re having a loud party at your home, you might want to let your neighbors know. This doesn’t guarantee that they won’t report you to the police, unfortunately, who could charge you with disorderly conduct – but it’s common courtesy. A disorderly conduct conviction will be on your criminal record for five years and could incur expensive fines and even jail time, so keep music, raucous conversations, and obscenities to a minimum.
3. If you’re under the age of 21, don’t drink – it’s the law. Some states allow exceptions to the minimum legal drinking age, but Pennsylvania is not one of them. Even if you’re drinking at home with parental consent and supervision, it’s illegal – and your parents could be charged with furnishing alcohol to a minor, which carries a minimum $1,000 fine and occasionally jail time. An underage drinking conviction is on your record until you turn 21.
4. Be polite. It might not get you out of a ticket or an arrest, but being polite might help you down the road. In my experience, it only hurts your case if you act obscenely or belligerent toward law enforcement during the DUI case process.
If you’re still deciding what you might do this weekend, think about catching one of the Barnstormers’ three home games and enjoy post-game fireworks! Nearby in Manheim, check out the sixth annual Great Pennsylvania FlavorFest – there will be food and drink samples, craft vendors, live music, and much more.
So whether you’re planning on having a cookout, attending a party, or checking out some events around town this weekend, we wish you a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend.
If you do happen to encounter legal trouble this weekend, feel free to give us a call at 717-393-1400 or email us for a consultation.