Fall is here, and with all the wet and gloomy weather there has been in Seattle lately, it must mean that Halloween is fast approaching. Halloween falls on a Thursday this year, which means there are two weekends left for Halloween parties, events, and festivals.

Halloween is always a fun time for not just children to dress up as their favorite monster or superhero, but adults as well. Halloween parties for adults can include spooktacular cocktails, and now that marijuana is legal, some parties might include edibles or marijuana-laced brownies as part of their fare. So it's a good time to remind people that they can still have fun, but they need to be aware that law enforcement will be on the lookout for anyone who chooses to imbibe and drive.

Scary Statistics

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 44% of crash fatalities on Halloween night from 2012 to 2016 were due to drunk driving. And 14% of pedestrian fatalities during that five-year span on Halloween nights involved drunk drivers.

Tips to Enjoy Halloween

Here in the greater Seattle metropolitan area and throughout nearby counties, you should expect that state and local law enforcement will be out with emphasis patrols, looking for drunk or high drivers. You don't have to be a statistic. The NHTSA has some tips to keep your Halloween from turning into a nightmare.

Make a plan before you head out. If you are going to a Halloween party where there will be alcoholic beverages or recreational marijuana, plan ahead to either have a designated driver, a taxi, or a rideshare vehicle take you home. Leave your car keys at home!

Party hosts, be aware. Offer non-alcoholic beverages for those who are the designated driver. Take car keys away from a guest if you think they are impaired. Also, keep in mind that Washington law, you can be held liable if someone under the age of 21 drinks alcohol or consumes marijuana at your house and then gets into an accident later. You could be fined up to $5,000 and even spend up to a year in jail, which is very frightening!

Sober Halloween enthusiasts. If you are not planning on drinking or getting high on Halloween, you still need to be careful. If you are chaperoning trick-or-treaters, make sure you and your little goblins are visible to motorists. Carry a flashlight or wear reflective clothing. Make sure you all stay on the sidewalks, or if there are none, walk facing the traffic. Finally, if you see a suspected impaired driver or pedestrian, call the police!

Steve Karimi, DUI Defense Attorney

If you are arrested for a DUI this Halloween season, the Law Offices of Steve Karimi are here to help. They will investigate your traffic stop, challenge any field sobriety tests, and mount the best possible defense for you. You don't have to accept that a charge of DUI is a fact. Call the Law Offices of Steve Karimi today at 206-621-8777 or fill out a contact form to get started on a free consultation of your case.