Utah residents may not be aware of statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate that Halloween is a dangerous holiday for motorists. The numbers indicate that more people die in DUI-related crashes on this holiday than die in the same type of crashes on New Year’s Eve. If Halloween is on a Friday or Saturday, those numbers rise by as much as 40 percent.
These statistics may be what prompted the Utah Highway Patrol to assign an additional 160 troopers on the roads on Halloween. Their primary focus was to be on the lookout for drivers they suspected were impaired. The UHP says this was done in order to ensure that partygoers and families get home safely.
This effort led to 33 people being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Salt Lake County alone. All of these people greeted the next day facing the possibility of criminal penalties such as fines, the suspension of his or her driver’s license or even jail time. A drunk driving charge and possible conviction can have adverse effects on every aspect of an individual’s life.
Each accused individual will likely want to gain an understanding of his or her rights and responsibilities in connection with the DUI charge. Fortunately, the presumption of innocence means that no one can be convicted without due process of law. Utah prosecutors are required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the person is actually guilty of the crime of which he or she has been charged. This gives an individual the opportunity to challenge the evidence prosecutors intend to present at trial and/or to explore other options to resolve the charges.
Source: fox13now.com, “Halloween DUI blitz nets more than 30 arrests in Salt Lake County“, Carly Figueroa, Nov. 1, 2014
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