After weeks of isolation due to Covid-19, many people are flooding to the beaches of Tybee Island and the streets of Savannah to celebrate Memorial Day weekend. Memorial Day weekend is always a busy time for law enforcement, but they are going to be out in particularly high numbers this weekend because of the expected volume of people throughout the area.
If you’re planning a big Memorial Day celebration, here are ways to keep yourself from spending the weekend in jail:
1. Never tell a police officer that you have been drinking. Even one alcoholic drink can be enough to get arrested for DUI. Know your rights and deny having had anything to drink.
2. Don’t get into a car when you’re not sure of its contents. This happens all the time on holiday weekends when someone catches a ride with friends. If you’re a passenger and there’s marijuana, pills, or a gun in the car, you can be held responsible.
3. Know that you have the right to simply walk away. Police officers are expected to approach groups of people this weekend to “remind” them to practice social distancing. This is often a guise to examine what a group is up to. If you are not doing anything wrong, you should walk away from a police encounter.
4. Plan on roadside field sobriety checkpoints. The police will likely set them up around Wilmington Island, Tybee Island, President Street in Savannah, and Port Wentworth. They will be especially harsh this weekend, since they were forced to cancel their St. Patrick’s Day roadblocks.
5. Avoid domestic violence situations. Oftentimes, partners have a little to drink and start arguing only to find that it leads to a physical altercation. This can be disastrous, as it may mean that the police keep the couple apart for the weekend. I have seen weekend visitors have to find separate transportation home due to a domestic violence arrest while on vacation. Don’t let that be the story of your weekend.
Have a great Memorial Day weekend and stay safe. Give us a call any time day or night if you need our help!