For many college students, spring break is a rite of passage. It’s what dreams and legends are made of. It’s something to look forward to, anticipate, and fantasize about. A whole week on a beach with your best friends and no responsibilities? Sign me up! However, in all of the excitement and fun, if you’re preparing for a spring break trip, you want to make sure that you are making good memories, and not bad ones. A run-in with the police is definitely something you want to avoid. To help you have a good time while staying safe and out of trouble during this spring break, I’ve compiled a list of top tips for spring break safety. Follow these tips to avoid trouble with the police!
Tips For Drinking and Going Out
A lot of people feel that a relaxing vacation includes few alcoholic beverages. If you do choose to partake in drinking or partying, make sure you do so responsibly. This can prevent complications that could ruin your trip.
- Do not use or carry illegal drugs. If someone offers them, do not accept them.
- Always have a plan of how you will get to and from a destination such as a bar or club. This is particularly important when you’re in a foreign city. Make sure that you know how to get back to the hotel that you are staying at.
- Always have a designated driver. If one person that you are with will not volunteer to stay sober, make alternative arrangements, such as calling a taxi or using public transportation.
- Be aware of your surroundings. If you’re unfamiliar with the area you’re in, you can easily get into trouble and make poor decisions if you’re intoxicated.
- Never leave your drink unattended or accept an open container from a stranger.
- If you want to drink on the beach, make sure this is legal before doing so.
- Don’t go swimming if you’ve been drinking.
- Do not become intoxicated in public. This is a crime and you can be arrested for it.
- Do not use a fake ID to get into a bar or club. In some states, this is a felony.
- Always leave a party or club with your friends. Your friends will put your safety first. The same can’t necessarily be said for the girl or guy buying you drinks all night.
Tips for Traveling
No matter what your mode of transportation, make sure you don’t have any unpleasant run-ins with the law while going to or from your spring break destination.
- Do not let a friend drive if they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Offer to drive if the person driving has acted irresponsibly.
- If you and your friends drive to your destination, make sure everyone has their license with them. This will allow you to share the burden of driving for long periods of time and can prevent accidents.
- Don’t try to smuggle illegal items onto planes, particularly when returning from an international trip. Just because something is legal in another country does not mean that it’s legal in the United States! If in doubt, don’t take the risk.
- Make sure you have appropriate identification on you at all times.
Following these tips can help you lower the risk of getting into trouble on your spring break trip. If something does go wrong on your trip, you should contact a criminal defense lawyer to assist you with your case.
