PART 1
Most of us read in school about Julius Caesar, and the Ides of March. It was a day in the Roman calendar that corresponds to 15 March…this week. It was marked by several religious observances and was notable for the Romans as a deadline for settling debts. The phrase, “Beware the Ides of March,” is the soothsayer’s message to Julius Caesar, warning of Caesar’s death/assassination in 44 BC.
Since that time, the idea stuck that the Ides of March is unlucky or a portent of doom—even if your name isn’t Caesar. The Latin root of “ides” means “to divide,” so ides basically just denotes the middle of the month.
This week’s column comes out on Wednesday March 15, 2023…normally The Ides of March…Madness. For the much of the country March Madness refers to The College Basketball Finals, as well as NASCAR, Golf and St Patty’s.
However, for those of us that live in the CV, it also refers to The Indian Wells BNP Tennis and the increased traffic of almost a half million visitors attending Tennis in Indian Wells. Everyone drinks while watching these events and of course…let’s not forget about St Patty’s? Will this St Patty’s 2023, involve drinking again, now that Covid is dissipating enough for many of us to venture out again.
At this time of the year, we see “snowbirds”, and other out of town visitors dining with our “locals”. This naturally increases traffic, which increases Accidents and Drunk Driving’s. Somehow, common sense should kick in to consider all the additional cars on the road. People are sitting in front of their TVs at home watching the Ukrainian War and January 6th investigations, and are dining outdoors and drinking again.
Many foolishly drive home, unaware of how many beers and glasses of wine can be consumed without our getting impaired. However, when we drink outside of home, we do not know how much alcohol the bartender poured.
In a restaurant/bar, 1 hard alcohol drink is probably not an ounce. This is because the bartender wants to get a good tip and assumes a strong drink will help accomplish that.
For DUI purposes, a 1 oz. pour equals about one drink but when 3-4 oz. is poured per drink, it is the same as 9 -12 drinks. Thus, when we say we only had 2 drinks, we forget it is not the number of drinks but the amount of alcohol in each drink that matters.
Strong drinks, coupled with the increase in traffic and drivers who have had too much to drink, increases the number of accidents and DUI’s. Of course, getting lost because of our dark nights, coupled with road repairs that necessitate lane changes, is “an accident waiting to happen”.
WITH the information contained herein, you do not have to “BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH IN 2023”.
DALE GRIBOW – Representing the Injured and Criminally Accused
“TOP LAWYER” – California’s Prestige Magazine, Palm Springs Life (PI/DUI) 2011-23
“TOP LAWYER” – Inland Empire Magazine
PERFECT 10.0 AVVO Peer Rating
AV RATING (The highest) 5 STAR
“DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE OR TEXT AND GET A DUI OR ACCIDENT… CALL A TAXI, LYFT OR UBER…. THEY ARE A LOT CHEAPER THAN CALLING ME”
Ideas for future columns contact Dale Gribow 760-837-7500 or dale@dalegribowlaw.com.
