Labor day marks the end of the summer; many of us like to celebrate with family and friends. Celebrations some times involve drinking, but by no means should it lead to drinking and driving. Data from the Persistent Drunk drivers Committee within the Colorado Department of Human Resources helps us see the impact. In Routt County last year there were 170 cases filed for Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI) and Driving Under the Influence (DUI), with an average Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.157. With the BAC threshold of .08 for a DUI, the county average is almost double the legal limit. As much fun as it is to celebrate please celebrate responsibly.
DUIs’ are not a laughing matter. They are expensive and could cost you for years after the incident. It is estimated by the Colorado Department of Transportation that a DUI charge in Colorado will cost $10,270, once you consider all the fines and professional fees. Those ten thousand dollars would buy you a nice vacation, 2,000 five-dollar McDonald’s gift cards to give to the needy, or about 700 boxes of Pixy Stixs. In the long run it could cost you a job and could hurt your credit score. There is some much better ways to spend your money other than on a DUI, that you could have avoided too start with.
The value of another person’s property or life cannot be factored in to the above costs. Replacement of damaged property caused by drunk driving cost you thousands of dollars on top of all those fees. Injuring or even killing others while driving under the influence affects not just their family and friends, but whole communities. These debts could be hard or impossible to completely repay.
One way to avoid all those expenses is to always have a ride home. If it’s a friend or a service have a plan before you head out to your fun. If everyone is enjoying drinks, there are plenty of options for you to get home safely. There are taxi services, hotel shuttles, and public transportation. Check out the links below before you go. There really is no excuse for not having a ride.Have a plan before, drink responsibly, choose not to drive, get home safely, and oh, have fun! Enjoy time with family and friends this Labor Day weekend!
Data Sources:
http://www.noduicolorado.org/dui-stats-by-county/
https://www.codot.gov/library/Brochures/COSTDUI09.pdf
Transportation information:
Taxis:
http://www.steamboatchamber.com/business-directory/list/sub-category/261
Buses:
