For September 8th, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel agreed to lift the decades-long “prohibition” on Friday night games at Wrigley Field, allowing the Cubs to play the Brewers with the blessing of MLB.
Though the Brewers didn’t like this (they were counting on taking advantage of a day game), they did end up winning with a score of 2–1.
Never mind. There are four rematches coming up in the regular season. And while the ban remains officially in place, this one exception may open up the possibility of future Friday night games at Wrigley Field.
Drinking at the Ballgame
Having a few drinks during the ballgame is part of the baseball tradition for many fans, but it’s always wise to drink responsibly. Should additional night games be allowed on Fridays, there will be even more police patrolling the streets, hunting for impaired drivers.
Responsible drinking means knowing your limits and never going beyond them—especially when getting behind the wheel.
Even if you do this, you could be wrongly arrested for a DUI you never committed. Chicago law enforcement sometimes uses flawed tactics to try to fight drunk driving, including watching for swerving within the lane while driving, and administering field sobriety tests that are known to be inaccurate.
Defending DUI Charges
If you are stopped by police after a ballgame on suspicion of drunk driving, follow these guidelines:
You should be honest when providing your identity, but do not offer any information about your driving. Be polite and non-confrontational. You can, by Illinois law, refuse to take field sobriety tests. There is no penalty for this refusal. (This is not the same as a BAC test, which may result in a license suspension of up to 3 years under some circumstances.)
Although you are not entitled to confer with a lawyer before deciding whether to take the breath test, you should insist on having a lawyer present before answering any questions. Contact an experienced DUI defense attorney who understands what the police can and cannot do. The attorneys affiliated with Mitchell S. Sexner & Associates LLC can make sure your rights are protected during the arrest and criminal proceedings. If you or someone you know has been arrested for DUI, call us right now at (312) 644-0444.
