Tonight is Thanksgiving Eve, but in other circles the night goes by a different name – Blackout Wednesday. For some bars, tonight is the busiest night of their year. Think about it. Some people have family in town ahead of Thanksgiving, and many college students are back home celebrating the holiday with family. This influx of people back in their hometown, combined with the fact that the vast majority don’t have to work tomorrow (or do much of anything besides eat), can lead to heavy traffic at the local watering hole.
Combine those factors with the fact that many people don’t want to go through the hassle of getting their car from the bar on Thanksgiving morning, and you’ve got a recipe for poor decisions the night before. In many locales, Blackout Wednesday is the single biggest day for DUI busts for police departments. That’s because police know all the above factors, and they have extra enforcement to look for drunk drivers. You better not roll that stop sign or drive without a working taillight, because the cops will take any opportunity to check for sober drivers behind the wheel tonight.
Avoiding A DUI On Blackout Wednesday
You should always strive to make good decisions behind the wheel, but if any night should get top priority, it’s tonight. Have a sober driver drop you off at the bar, hitch a ride with a friend, hail an Uber, do whatever you need to do to set yourself up for success. Getting dropped off at the bar is the easiest way to avoid driving after you’ve had too many, but if you’re driving to the bar, set a firm limit or resign to the fact that your car is better off sleeping over in the parking lot.
Whatever you do, don’t assume that you’ll be fine getting home because you only live a mile away down a country road. We can’t tell you how many DUI cases we’ve handled where the person was driving only a mile or two to their house when they were arrested. Because even if you’re the best driver in the world, all it takes is a deer to cut across the road or someone walking home on the shoulder to turn your night into a disaster. Make the smart decision tonight and find a sober ride home.
Finally, try to make sure nobody in your circle gets behind the wheel when they shouldn’t be driving. There’s always that one person who thinks they are invincible, and they may even offer you a ride home. You might be thinking of taking them up on that offer. After all, you won’t get a DUI and it may save you $10 on an Uber. Although you won’t end up with a DUI, your life will be forever changed if they cause an accident or end up in the ditch. Take the sober ride, and encourage others to do the same. Heck, offer to give them a ride to their car in the morning if you’re feeling up to it. Who knows, that small act of kindness could end up saving a life.
Have a great Thanksgiving holiday, and if something crazy happens and you need legal help, call Appelman Law Firm. We answer our phones throughout the night all through the holiday, so we can help no matter when you call. Give us a call today at (952) 224-2277. We service the greater Twin Cities area and its suburbs.
