Tonight is Fat Tuesday, so if you’re giving up anything for Lent, today is the last day to indulge. Minneapolis and St. Paul are both hosting a number of events to ring in the holiday, so you’re sure to find something fun if you look hard enough.
That being said, Fat Tuesday is also typically rung in with alcohol and spirits, which means you need to make good decisions about how you’ll get home tonight. Police are well aware of the festivities, and they’ll be out in full force looking for drunk drivers and other lawbreakers.
Avoiding A DUI
Avoiding a DUI on Mardi Gras in Minnesota really comes down to two big factors – Making a plan ahead of time, and making smart decisions at the end of the night.
The best way to avoid a drunk driving charge if you know you’ll be drinking is to plan a sober ride home before you start drinking. Whether that involves finding a designated driver, downloading the Uber or Lyft apps, taking the light rail or hopping into a bus or cab, figure out how you’re getting to your destination and how you plan to get home before you start drinking for the night. If you are planning on driving to your destination, make sure you park in an area where you can leave your car overnight in the event your have too much to drink. I’ve heard stories from clients who said they only drove home because they couldn’t leave their car on the street, and if they only would have planned ahead, they wouldn’t have ended up in handcuffs. Plan ahead at the outset of the night so you aren’t put in a compromising situation at the end of the night.
Similarly, stick to a plan and make good choices at the end of the night. Don’t listen to the friend who wants to drive so they can stop a Taco Bell on the way, and don’t skip out on your designated driver because you want to have one more drink at the bar. Even if plans change, there’s still no reason to get behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking. Have alternative solutions in place in case your designated driver needs to leave or you end up drinking more than you planned, and don’t deviate from those plans.
Mardi Gras DUI Lawyer
As we noted above, here are just a few ways to get home safely tonight if you’re going to celebrate Mardi Gras with some alcoholic beverages:
- Designated driver
- Uber/Lfyt
- Taxi
- Light rail
- Bus
- Walk (if appropriate)
- Safe Ride
If you make a mistake tonight and end up in a bad situation, whether that involves a DUI, an assault charge or a disorderly conduct charge, reach out to Avery Appelman and the team at Appelman Law Firm right away. We can get you out of jail tonight and begin working on your case. Our phones ring 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can get a hold of us any time of night. Call us tonight if you need our help by dialing (952) 224-2277. Have a safe and fun Fat Tuesday!
