As a car owner, you probably have a lot of things to do. Thus, you might not always manage to keep up with your vehicle’s maintenance and checks.
If the safety importance of regular checks and maintenance does not convince you to prioritize them, consider that a poorly maintained vehicle could also make a DUI more likely.
Don’t give the police a reason to stop you
It is always best to refrain from drinking alcohol before driving. However, the law does not make it illegal for most drivers to have a small quantity of alcohol before driving. The problem is that it is easy to get the quantity wrong and end up over the limit which could see you charged with a DUI if the police stop you.
Outside of DUI checkpoints, the police can only stop you if they have grounds to believe you have broken the law. If you do not get around to regular vehicle checks and maintenance, your vehicle might be all the reason they need.
Take the example of your lights. The law requires you to have all lights in operational order at all times. If you have not walked around your vehicle before getting into it for a while, you might not notice that a bulb has stopped working. If the police notice your light is out, they have every right to stop you, and when they do, they might ask you to perform a test for alcohol if they think you’ve had a drink.
Similar could happen if an officer notices your tires are worn down, your windshield is cracked or your wipers are not working. By keeping your car in good order, you reduce the chance that an officer will pull you over. You therefore reduce the chance of both a drunk driving charge and one for the vehicle fault.