Driving under the influence is a grave offense – in Washington and the rest of the country, for that matter. Unfortunately, while everyone knows that driving under the result is a bad idea, it’s common for drivers to plan a night out only to realize too late that they’re too drunk to drive home.
Nobody wants a DUI charge. In this scenario, drivers might be tempted to nap in their car until they’ve sobered up – but that might be a bad idea.
Sobering up quickly
Some people might think that you can sober up with a lot of water or by drinking something with a lot of caffeine. There are also rumors about eating things that might help too. While water and eating food might help avoid a hangover the next day, there’s no straightforward way to sober up quickly. So, the only cure is to wait it out or sleep it off.
When you’re sleeping, your body puts all unused energy into digestion, allowing various substances to work their way out of your system. So naturally, if you’ve had a night out and you have to drive back home, you might be tempted to sleep in your car.
Why sleeping intoxicated in your car is a lousy idea
Sleeping in your vehicle until you’ve sobered up might seem a good idea. It looks innocuous enough, anyway. But in many states, being in a car while drunk can be seen as intent to drive. So if the keys are in your possession and you’re in the car with the ability to start it – regardless if you intend to -you could be charged with a DUI.
In today’s day and age, there are plenty of alternatives to sleeping in your car or driving home after a night out. So if you know you’ll be out drinking, make plans to catch a ride with a sober friend or call an Uber.
