Summer is a time for celebration in New England—whether you’re kicking off the season with a Memorial Day cookout or wrapping it up with a Labor Day gathering. These long weekends are all about friends, family, good food, and cold drinks. But while you’re toasting the summer with a frosty margarita or a cold beer, it’s important to make safe choices—especially when it comes to drinking and driving.

Holiday weekends often mean more police roadblocks and random checkpoints looking for impaired drivers. Getting behind the wheel after a few drinks isn’t just risky—it can lead to an OUI charge that can ruin your summer and much more.

If you plan to enjoy a few drinks, make sure to plan ahead. Designate a driver, arrange for a taxi or ride share, or stay the night. If you’re hosting, help your friends make safe choices before they leave.

If you do get stopped by the police, remember this: how you handle yourself matters. Officers are trained to observe you from the moment they see your vehicle. They’ll note how you pull over, how you retrieve your license and registration, and how coherent you seem when you speak. It’s critical to stay calm and respectful.

If asked to take a field sobriety test or breathalyzer, you have the right to refuse. Refusing the breathalyzer means you’ll lose your license for a time, but it also means there may be no evidence against you in court. Remember, Massachusetts courts are once again allowing breathalyzer results in OUI cases. That’s why it’s so important to know your rights and to think carefully before agreeing to any tests.

If you or someone you know is facing an OUI charge, call or text Contant Law for help. Put us in your contacts—you never know when you might need us.