• 21
  • November
    2011

Thanksgiving is almost here and a lot of university students will be returning home to visit New York family over the long weekend. Many students find the holiday an ideal time to catch up with old friends. For students over the age of 21, a local bar is the standard meeting place for Wednesday and Friday night gatherings.

A cautionary tale comes from Long Island, where this month a 22-year-old man crashed his car into a Suffolk County police cruiser in the early morning hours. The driver was wearing a shirt, which said "I'm not an alcoholic, I'm a drunk, alcoholics go to meetings." The officer in the police cruiser was a part of the department's Selective Alcohol Fatality Enforcement Team and arrested the man for driving while impaired (DWI).

While the incident may seem funny, driving after drinking one too many is no laughing matter. Drivers charged with Westchester or Rockland County DWI face serious consequences. Some of the penalties following conviction include: fines, court costs, possible jail time, loss of a driver's license and higher insurance premiums. A New York DWI conviction can become a very expensive crime.

Tips to Stay Safe on Thanksgiving and Throughout the Year

The best way to avoid the consequences of a DWI charge or conviction is to plan ahead. Make sure to have a safe way to get home before going out to celebrate with friends. Designate a sober driver in advance. Call a taxi to get home after that extra drink.

Over the long holiday weekend, more New York state police troops will be on the road targeting speeders, those not using their seat belts and impaired drivers. If stopped on suspicion of DWI, be polite and cooperate with the officer. Then call a local DWI attorney.

Source: Huffington Post, "Kevin Daly Arrested for DWI After Crashing Into Cop Car, Wearing 'I'm a drunk' T-shirt," Nov. 17, 2011