Fourth of July holiday means barbecues, beer and DWI

Summer’s at its peak, the days are nice and warm, the sun’s out almost the longest we see all year, and many of us are off work for the day or maybe even a long weekend. The Fourth of July weekend for many Americans is a time to celebrate our freedoms as a nation. Whether we are honoring veterans and watching bands and floats go by at a local parade, or sitting on the lawn in town gazing up at the sky exploding in lights and color of fireworks, or just chilling in a back yard with family and friends enjoying some burgers, brats and beers, the holiday means many things to many people.

Unfortunately, during this time, it is not uncommon for some people to lose track of how many drinks they have consumed. If they have a designated driver, this is less of a problem, but if they decide to get behind the wheel after a few drinks too many, they jeopardize the safety of not only themselves and others in the car with them, but anyone else sharing the roads, whether they are others in cars, motorcyclists or even pedestrians on or near the road.

Drunk driving accidents take thousands of lives each year in the United States, including some from the Rochester, New York, region. State and local police try to keep such incidents to a minimum, often with public service announcements and increased patrols on the roads when drunk driving is more likely, but the fact is that some people lose good judgment after having a few and find themselves facing drunk driving charges.

A drunk driving conviction comes with many serious hurdles for you and your future including a license revocation, fines, and possibly even time in prison. It is important to fight these charges and protect your rights as best you can. Often this means reaching out to a strong criminal defense team to help you. It could mean all the difference in the world, and could affect your life for years or decades down the road. Defense attorney James L. Riotto is a both an experienced DWI lawyer and a former state trooper. This background gives him a unique perspective on both the prosecution and the defense of those accused of DWI.