Many people in Colorado and throughout the country celebrated the St. Patrick’s Day holiday in March. For some, this means celebrating their Irish heritage. For others, it is an opportunity to celebrate at parties with friends and family members, perhaps drinking a green beer or two. Of course, law enforcement officials know the tendency of some people to drink alcohol on this particular holiday, which is why it is not uncommon to see increased DUI patrols around this time of the year.
In fact, a recent report detailed how DUI enforcement throughout Colorado around the time of the recent St. Patrick’s Day holiday netted nearly 300 arrests over a four-day period. The increased law enforcement patrols are part of a springtime campaign known as “The Heat Is On.” Fortunately, the 293 arrests of allegedly impaired drivers were actually a decrease from 2018, when 323 people were arrested around the same time of the year.
Even though there are now hundreds of people who are facing criminal charges as a result of their alleged conduct over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday weekend, it is important for everyone to remember that an arrest is not the same as a conviction. These individuals will be able to present a criminal defense, as is their constitutional right.
There are a variety of ways in which DUI charges may be attacked by defendants. Perhaps there was no valid reason for the traffic stop to begin with. Or, perhaps field sobriety tests were conducted improperly. Any defects in the arrest process committed by law enforcement officials could call the whole case into question.