Memorial Day Weekend is one of the busiest weekends of the year for Utah Highway Patrol (UHP). UHP writes more DUI citations over this weekend than almost any other weekend of the year. Unlike Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and other holidays where people are traveling typically shorter distances under the influence, on Memorial Day Weekend, people are typically driving longer distances while impaired. Additionally, there are more people on recreational vehicles like boats, ATVs, dirt bikes, etc. who will be cited for a DUI. This year, UHP is really ramping up there presence state wide. Last year there were several fatalities involving alcohol during the Memorial Day Weekend so UHP is hoping to cut down those numbers. You can bet there will be several DUI checkpoints set up during the weekend across the state. Often they do these on Friday evening in many of the canyons close to the major valleys and also again on Monday afternoon when the most people will be traveling home. Do not get stuck with a DUI, drug, or some other alcohol related charge this weekend. Be safe out there. If you do find yourself facing a DUI, call us as soon as possible, we will be answering phone all weekend.
Texting and Driving
UHP also made it clear they will actively be on the hunt to enforce the new texting while driving law that just recently went into effect. To avoid getting a ticket for using your phone, don’t use it at all except in a hands free setting. If you don’t have blue tooth, don’t use your phone because almost anything you do on your phone with your hands is now illegal under Utah law. You can’t dial, browse, email, text, or anything else unless it is hands free. If you are holding your phone UHP is going to assume you are doing something in violation with the phone and pull you over. If you find yourself facing a texting while driving charge in Utah, call us for assistance.
