No one can blame anyone for wanting to go out and have a good time with friends. It’s great to go see people and relieve stress by having a drink and hanging out. It’s fine to go to parties or clubs, too.

The problem doesn’t arise until alcohol becomes too much of a bad influence. Small amounts of alcohol can make you feel good and won’t hinder your decision-making abilities much, if at all. However, as the night rolls on, you may notice that you care less about your own safety or what you’re doing; this is a result of the loss of inhibitions that alcohol causes.

Driving home after drinking can result in a DWI

If you make the decision to head home after a night out and have had too much to drink, you may not be surprised when an officer pulls you over. If your vehicle is weaving, or even if you’ve just done something simple like forgetting to turn on your lights, you could end up stopped and asked for a breath sample. If that sample is over the limit, or if you appear impaired, the officer may ask you to perform field sobriety tests. Failing those in combination with alcohol in your system could lead to an arrest.

If you are arrested for a DWI, know that you shouldn’t take the charge lightly. Even a first offense can add points to your license, increase your car insurance rates and potentially mean that you need to spend time in jail. You may face fines and need to perform community service. You could even lose your license.

A DWI has the potential to change your life. If you have been arrested for drinking and driving, it’s time to start building a defense.