New York state authorities warned people that they were stepping up their patrols and increasing the enforcement of traffic rules over the Thanksgiving holiday – but not everybody got the message.
All told, the New York State Police investigated 1,041 accidents and issued 12,975 tickets over the Thanksgiving holiday this year. A total of 183 drivers were arrested on DWI charges between Nov. 24 and Nov. 28. That’s a significant increase over the 155 DWI arrests made in the same time frame in 2020.
Expect more to come over the coming month
While the state authorities haven’t yet announced when they’ll be running the next enforcement campaign, it’s a sure bet that there will be more to follow with Christmas and New Year’s Eve coming up.
With that in mind, here’s an annual reminder that getting picked up on a DWI charge is most definitely not going to make for a merry Christmas or a happy new year. If you haven’t already started to make plans so that you can get to and from parties and events where alcohol is being served safely, it’s time to start.
Have Uber and Lyft apps on your phone, make a bargain with a friend to alternate turns as the sober driver or plan to abstain. Whatever solutions work best for you is fine – as long as you don’t drink and drive.
All that being said, mistakes do happen. It’s easy to misjudge just how much even a single drink could affect you, and you could even be mistaken for an impaired driver just because you’re trying to get home when you’re overly tired. If you’re facing DWI charges in New York, take immediate steps to protect your rights and your future.