Jun 19, 2008 By Cpl. Joseph D'Andrea 3 min read

My concerns about the concert season center around the drive to and from the concert location. Whether the concert is at the Post-Gazette Pavilion, Mellon Arena or another location is irrelevant. My concern is arriving at the concert and returning home safely.

Driving to the concert, plan to leave early to allow for delays.

Be cognizant of traffic and possible construction delays and remember to obey traffic laws and drive attentively.

Remember that if you arrive a few minutes late at least you did arrive and will see the concert.

If due to your speeding or aggressive driving, you are involved in a crash you will not get to see the concert anyway.

What are you doing at the concert?

Consuming alcoholic beverages?

Hopefully not using drugs?

If consuming alcohol, be aware of what your designated driver is doing. Is he drinking along with you?

Remember your life is literally in his hands. Was your driver awake all day and can fatigue be a factor during the ride home? Is he yawning or does he appear tired? The fatigue factor effect on the driver is similar to driving under the influence.

Now let’s look at the laws pertaining to driving under the influence:

What is the legal limit? There is none. If you have drugs or alcohol in your blood and are incapable of safe driving, then you are Driving Under the Influence.

Additional charges may be added for blood alcohol content level (BAC). An additional charge would be added if you are under 21 years of age and your BAC is 0.02 percent (approximately one beer).

Additional charges could be added for higher BAC levels and penalties are more severe.

If you are incapable of safe driving and any amount of illicit drugs is detected in your blood, you could be charged with an additional charge of DUI.

You can also be charged if you’re under the influence of a prescribed medication and incapable of safe driving.

Conducting yourself in an improper manner at the concert can lead to Disorderly Conduct and Public Drunkenness both punishable by up to $300 and or 90 days imprisonment:

Disorderly conduct – If a person with intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm by engaging in: fighting or threatening, makes an unreasonable noise, uses obscene language or makes an obscene gesture, or creates a physically offensive condition which serves no legitimate purpose.

Public Drunkenness – A person appears in a public place under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance to the degree that they may endanger themselves, other persons or property.

Remember these are just a few of the laws that may be violated.

Also all other laws apply.

To have an enjoyable event, you must arrive safely at the concert, not cause or encounter a public nuisance during the event and arrive home at the end of the evening, safely.