If you’ve had a little to drink and get behind the wheel and see those blue and red flashing lights in your rearview, it can be stressful. Not only is the arrest stressful, but then you have the court appearances, and the impact it could have on your life. However, there are some tips that can help you if you do get arrested for DUI. Provide the information the officer needs in regard to your identity, but do not provide any additional details without a lawyer. It’s not a good idea to refuse the breathalyzer because the DUI penalties can be harsher if you do. Being polite and cooperative will not only look better for you in court, but it will have an impact on the officer’s treatment of you.
The Petaluma Patch reports on how California ranks in national DUI rates. With findings based on The Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and FBI crime reports, a comprehensive ranking of U.S. states according to drunken driving rates was recently released.
In 2018, California captured the 25th overall ranking, having 322.7 DUI-related arrests per every 100,000 people. While that might not exactly be a stellar record, there is a silver lining. Between 2009 and 2018, DUI arrest rates dropped by 43.2%.
Overall, only three states recorded an increase in DUI arrests: Delaware, Washington, and North Dakota. Despite the increase in DUI rates, Delaware secured the top spot for the least number of DUI-related arrests.
The findings also revealed that men are more likely than women to be arrested for DUI, accounting for 3 of every 4 DUI arrests. Whites also accounted for the majority of DUI arrests in 2018, at 81.2%.
