Have You Lined Up Your Designated Drivers?

We’ve all been listening to Christmas music in every store and public place since before Halloween, so we all know that the holidays are upon us. Thanksgiving is right around the corner. While you’re inviting your family and friends and planning your menus and decorating your homes and shopping for holiday gifts and trying to be meticulous about every detail, don’t leave this one out: line up your designated drivers.

A lot of people associate having a good meal or just a good time with alcohol. Cocktails, wine with the food, beers with your feet on the coffee table when you’re watching sports on TV, eggnog while you’re wrapping presents. It all seems harmless unless or until you imbibe too much and then have to get into a car and drive somewhere. Or if one or more of your guests has had a great time at your party and had one drink too many and now has car keys in his or her hands. A good host should be prepared for this. Make sure that someone else is willing to be a designated driver to get that person where he/she is going. It’s a good idea to ask your guests in advance of the party if any of them would be willing to take this on. You don’t want the obligation to land on you. 

Make sure that your designated driver won’t drink at all. One drink early on might be fine, depending on that person’s capacity for alcohol, but that’s it. The legal drinking age in Oregon is 21, so someone younger with a driver’s license might volunteer. Check that that person is capable and confident driving at night and under any weather conditions. An older driver with more experience might be a better idea.

If there isn’t anyone who wants to raise a hand for this, plan for the likelihood by calling services in your community. Some of them will take your guest(s) home and also make sure the car gets there. Take a look at this Designated Driver Site for more information.

And don’t forget about yourself. If you’re planning on doing some bar hopping to celebrate, acknowledge up front that you might not be in any shape to drive when the evening is over. Pick someone from your group to stay sober, or make arrangements for someone else or a service to pick 
you up.

As we pointed out last year, a DUII is a crime in Oregon. For a first offense, the mandatory minimum sentence is 48 hours in jail plus probation, a fine and a license suspension.  While on probation, you will also be required to complete alcohol treatment before you can get your license back. If you already have had two drunk driving convictions in the last 10 years, you may be charged with a felony, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 90 days incarceration, and could result in prison time.

It is possible that you will be charged with other crimes along with drunk driving, such as Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangerment, Assault, Criminal Mischief, or Failing to Perform the Duties of a Driver (Hit and Run). Don’t ruin your life or anyone else’s. Please.

People often say, “better safe than sorry” and this is a prime example of that. Just be prepared. And then you can all enjoy the holiday gatherings without worrying about what comes later.

We offer a range of legal specialties and many years of experience. Why don’t you start with us? And we like to think that we’re easy to talk with. Please give us a call at 503.655.7555 and let us see what we can do for you or contact us here.

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