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State and local law enforcement have begun stepped up DUI emphasis patrols in anticipation of "Black Wednesday," one of the deadliest days of the year.(Brandi Kruse/KIRO Radio photo)

Cops brace for wave of DUI's on Blackout Wednesday

BY Josh Kerns  on November 21, 2012 @ 9:48 am (Updated: 10:16 am - 11/21/12 )

While many people are gearing up for Black Friday, police are bracing for a much darker start to the holidays: Blackout Wednesday.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports the number of people killed in drunken driving crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend soared by 30 percent in 2010 compared with the rest of the year, with 174 people dying during the period.

The bulk of the fatalities happened during the early morning hours of Thanksgiving, the agency found.

"A lot of people treat that day like they would a Friday night. They don't have to go to work for the next few days so they'll leave work, they'll go out, they'll drink a lot and then they'll drive after drinking," says Jeff Miracle, Executive Director of the North Texas Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers.

"Our message to drivers is we're going to have a significantly large amount of troopers working with the city and county agencies to take people off the roads," says Washington State Patrol trooper Keith Leary.

Leary says the agency has already stepped up emphasis patrols in anticipation of the holiday and expects Wednesday night to be particularly busy.

"This is one of those holidays from now all the way until Christmas where a lot of gatherings take place where alcohol is served. A lot of times we don't think about what we need to do as far as getting to and from a location after drinking," he says.

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
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Comments (8)


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  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Yea the Hempheads driving while baked will add to the DUI arrests
    November 21, 2012 12:39 pm
    and the carnage on the highways since now this "Safe" drug is legal.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Newton wrote...
    Its called stealing from the Citizens.
    November 21, 2012 1:19 pm
    Don't get wraped up into the never ending red tape machine. Stay off the roads if you have been drinking the Police are there to pick your wallets and purses clean and ruin your life. Then the never ending red tape money machine starts. Its insane so don't do it! these state/city emplyees are monsters!!! trying to take away everything you worked hard for. Don't give it away to them stay safe and don't drink and drive not worth the risk. Don't feed the Monsters!!!.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Saltchucker wrote...
    Newton is right.
    November 21, 2012 1:32 pm
    A relative of mine fell into the DUI loop a couple of years ago. Treatment, victims panels, fines. It is all about the money. They will threaten you with jail time to ensure you pay them everything you got, but when my relative ran out of money he did not go to jail and the system lost interest in him. After seeing just exactly what the powers that be warped the publics desire for safe steets into.....well let's just say the amount of respect I have for "the man" has gone down considerably.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ToldYa wrote...
    pot related fatalties?
    November 21, 2012 1:26 pm
    I'd like to know how many fatalities stoned drivers have caused, as opposed to alcohol and pill popping drivers. One infamous drunk that comes to mind is bobbe bridges (albeit she didn't kill anyone, yet...)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • kato1967 wrote...
    All of the Above
    November 21, 2012 1:53 pm
    Some folks combine all of those things...what do we blame it on in those cases?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sohojo wrote...
    DUI's from pot
    November 21, 2012 4:25 pm
    This is just a paranoid reaction to this law passing. I got news for you, people are already driving stoned probably more than you think. There is no evidence to back up this asseration. Alcohol is and will remain the most abused and dangerous drug.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    When I was young (a long time ago)
    November 21, 2012 5:33 pm
    The Police would pour out my beer or whisky and send me on my way. Now post "Foster Brooks" drunks ain't funny no more.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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