Avoid a DUI This St. Paddy's Day - DUI Attorney in NH

Know Your Limits: Avoid St. Patrick’s Day Drinking Mistakes

With St. Patrick’s Day taking place this week, many New Hampshire residents will be taking part in celebrations. From parades to special events, residents will find much to see and do on the holiday. While there is fun to be had, it is also important to remember to stay safe during the festivities. When you go out for St. Patrick’s Day, remember your limits. The holiday is big on drinking, especially beer, which can lead to trouble if you are not thinking clearly. Check out these tips below to avoid common St. Patrick’s Day drinking mistakes.

Set a Limit

When you decide you are going out this week for St. Patrick’s Day, set a limit. Tell yourself you will only have so many drinks and have someone with you that you trust. You can easily get into trouble if you have one too many drinks and no one to help you get home. Avoid driving when drinking, so you do not find yourself facing DUI charges from the New Hampshire police department!

Choose Your Drink Wisely

Choose what you drink wisely. You know what you can handle. Stick to beer if you just want to have a good time and avoid the hard liquor. Too much whiskey or rum could end in a result of rash decisions that could get you into trouble or even hurt. Know which drinks cause you to act a certain way and choose accordingly. You want to have fun but not endanger yourself or others.

Designated Driver

If you are going out and know that you will be drinking, be sure to find a designated driver. This could be a friend or family member who goes out with you or calling a transportation service such as a taxi cab. You need to be safe on the roads as well as help others to be safe. If you drink then drive, you are not only endangering yourself but also everyone else on the roadways. Make sure you have someone to assist you in getting home so you do not drive and put yourself at risk as well as other people. You can avoid harming others as well as a DUI charge that is imminent when you drink and drive.

Avoid the Roads 

It can be much safer to just avoid the roads altogether during St. Patrick’s Celebrations or limit the time you celebrate to the earlier evening hours. Go home by 10 or 11 p.m. to avoid being on the roadways when people might choose to drink and drive. You cannot control the actions of others but you can be aware of your surroundings. Leave the bar or pub before it gets too late and you know the roadways will be patrolled by local police.

During major holidays, local police set up roadblocks to check for ID as well as for those who may have been drinking. You can feel safe knowing that police are trying to keep a handle on drinking and driving. Be sure that you avoid partaking in this activity so you do not become another fatality on the roadways due to drinking then driving. If you believe you have been falsely accused and arrested for DUI, contact a New Hampshire DUI attorney.

By Robert Bartis

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Child Support Modification Laws in New Hampshire

The statute indicates that child support can be modified either every three years or if there has been a substantial change in circumstances that warrants such an adjustment.  However, the court does not want, or have the resources to handle, a flurry of activity every time something simple or routine happens in someone’s payment schedule, i.e., a minimal annual raise or minor increase in rate of pay.  So, the court has established a procedure by which the parties can return for a review on the three-year anniversary date of the original child support court order. Otherwise, the only time the parties can seek to modify child support is if there is a substantial change in circumstances. That term can be ambiguously and broadly interpreted by the court and it is often a very fact-specific based argument. 

Support Changes & Modification Circumstances

Specifically, you have to make a compelling argument as to why you cannot pay the same amount and what circumstances occurred that necessitate such a change.  Frequent examples will be when someone changes their job status from part time to full time or full time to part time; a medical illness or a debilitating disease occurs; some type of personal injury results in a loss of employment and/or a temporary hiatus is needed due to short  term or long term disability; a company’s closure or layoffs; loss of regular and consistent overtime; some type of seasonal work change or, conversely, a promotion or company merger that results in a better rate of pay for someone. 

Free Consultations

As you can see, all of these situations result in individual families being reviewed and examined by the court as to the circumstances surrounding the need for a modification. If the judge determines that there has been a substantial change then the child support order will be modified on a temporary or a long-term basis.  If you feel that you have sufficient grounds to have your child support recalculated, please contact our office for a free consultation.


By Robert Bartis

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