The Most Common Charges Filed on Major Holidays

 Posted on December 23, 2024 in Criminal Defense

A lot of arrests are made on and around major winter holidays, like Christmas and New Year’s Day. People are out celebrating en masse on certain days of the year. Celebrations often include alcohol and family members you may not see often or really get along with. While children are usually excited and joyous, adults are often stressed. There can be a lot of stress around major holidays - they can be very expensive, especially for those who are traveling or who have children. Seeing your extended family can be stressful even if you have fairly positive relationships. People may feel a lot of pressure to make the holidays happen.

It should come as no surprise that holiday celebrations sometimes take an unfortunate turn and end in someone getting arrested. If you are arrested while celebrating the holidays, an experienced Will County, IL criminal defense attorney can help you.

The Top 5 Reasons People Are Arrested During Winter Holidays

A few of the most common criminal charges people are arrested on during the winter holidays include:

• DUI - On any holiday when there is a lot of drinking, there are a lot of DUI arrests. The police are well aware that people typically drink more during the month of December due to holiday celebrations and usually increase their drunk driving patrols. New Year’s Day is the number one day for DUI arrests. Most of these arrests happen in the early morning hours, just after midnight. 
• Vandalism - Holiday displays attract vandalism, especially from teens and young adults. 
• Domestic violence - In Illinois, you can be charged with domestic violence for assaulting anyone you are related to. This means that if you get into a fistfight with your brother or dump a glass of eggnog on your obnoxious aunt’s head at the family Christmas party, you could be charged with domestic violence. Intimate partner violence also tends to increase or become more serious during the winter holidays.
• Simple assaults - When people are already under a lot of stress, physical altercations between strangers become much more likely. The classic example here is two shoppers fighting over the last must-have toy in a department store. It is important to remember that any physical contact that could be harmful or offensive can be considered an assault in Illinois. So, for example, intentionally hitting another shopper with your cart to get him to move out of the way would be an assault. 
• Thefts - When people are stretched thin financially, they become more likely to steal. Shoplifting is particularly common in the lead-up to major gift-giving occasions. 

Contact a Will County, IL Criminal Defense Lawyer

Law Offices of Jack L. Zaremba, P.C. is committed to providing the best criminal defense services possible. Experienced Joliet, IL criminal defense attorney Jack Zaremba has over 20 years of criminal law experience. Contact us at 815-740-4025 for a complimentary consultation.