As Predicted, Delaware Law Enforcement Make St. Paddy's DUI Arrests

A few weeks ago, in the days leading up to the St. Patrick’s Day weekend, as it often does, our firm’s Facebook page posted best wishes for a happy and safe holiday and even included a link to an article announcing a statewide effort to crack down on DUI over the holiday weekend. In fact, if you read local news or listened to it on the radio, you would have noticed that this effort was well publicized by agencies well in advance of the holiday. And yet…

Statewide DUI checkpoints conducted on St. Patrick’s Day nabbed 15 impaired drivers. From a News Journal article on the subject:

That has Delaware officials touting how their media campaigns have helped draw attention to the avoidable hazard that federal authorities say kills about 29 people a day in America.

“Due to extensive media coverage, lives were saved because, we believe, people heeded and spread the message, and made safe choices,” said Mitch Topal, Delaware Office of Highway Safety’s marketing specialist and spokesman.

In addition to the 15 DUI arrests, the March 17 efforts nabbed 68 traffic arrests or citations for other infractions, including 16 drug arrests and the apprehension of one wanted person.

As attorneys, we absolutely feel that all of the accused are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. We would like to remind folks celebrating a holiday or any day that there are options too numerous to count for a safe transportation alternative after one has been consuming alcohol or any other controlled substance. Those looking forward to summer fun should note that Delaware’s Office of Highway Safety is already working on coordinating the next Checkpoint Strikeforce effort on July 14, which will include five DUI checkpoints across the state and patrols.