‘Wobble Wobble:’ State Police says don’t be a turkey for Thanksgiving; announces holiday DWI crackdown

It’s okay to ‘gobble gobble’ for Thanksgiving, but if you ‘wobble wobble’ as you get behind the wheel and drive, the State Police says you’re setting yourself up to be a turkey.

With the Thanksgiving holiday upon us, it means people are going to travel to see their friends and loved ones. For this year, the AAA predicts over 54-million Americans will travel over 50-miles to spend the holiday with family and friends, which reflects numbers that were once pre-pandemic.

Whether its next door, down the road, an hour or two away or across the state, the State Police is warning you to drive sober, or get pulled over.

The state’s annual Thanksgiving DWI crackdown campaign kicks-off Wednesday, November 23 and wraps up Monday, November 28. "Thanksgiving is traditionally one of the busiest travel times of the year, and our top priority is to make sure everyone gets to and from their destinations safely," Governor Hochul said.

"There is zero tolerance for drunk and impaired drivers who risk the lives of everyone on our roadways. If your Thanksgiving celebrations include alcohol, plan for a safe ride home with a sober driver."

The enforcement campaign means a partnership with county and local agencies for increased patrols. Drivers should also expect sobriety checkpoints.

During last-year’s crackdown, State Police issued nearly 13,000 tickets, including 183 arrests for drunk driving and over 4,500 for speeding. 

According to the Governor's Office, driving drunk or drugged puts not only the driver's life and the lives of others, but could result in arrest, jail time and substantial fines and attorney fees. The average drinking and driving arrest costs up to $10,000. 

Arrested drunk and drugged drivers face the loss of their driver's license, higher insurance rates and dozens of unanticipated expenses from attorney fees, fines and court costs, car towing and repairs, and lost time at work. 

The New York State Police, the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommend these simple tips to prevent impaired driving: 

• Plan a safe way home before the fun begins. 
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver. 
• If you're impaired, use a taxi or ride sharing service, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation. 
• Use your community's sober ride program.  
• If you suspect a driver is drunk or impaired on the road, don't hesitate to contact local law enforcement. 
• If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.   

Image courtesy via the New York State Police.