Arrested for DUI on Thanksgiving?
Police may increase DUI patrols and checkpoints around Thanksgiving; enforcement varies by area.
Thanksgiving arrests cluster on the Wednesday night before the holiday, when people come home and meet old friends at bars, and over the long weekend that follows. Many are visiting family away from the county where they live. If you were arrested, you're not alone — and the steps you take in the next few days matter more than anything.
WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT A THANKSGIVING ARREST
- •Many courts and license offices close Thursday, and some also close Friday; check how your state counts the hearing deadline
- •If you were visiting from another county or state, write down the arresting agency and county now; you will need them
- •Telling family over the holiday is hard, and you do not have to explain the details of your case to anyone
In states with an administrative license hearing, the deadline to request one ranges from 6 to 90 days.
All 50 state guides →Other holiday arrests: Fourth of July · Labor Day · New Year's Eve
WHAT TO DO RIGHT NOW
- •Don't discuss your case with anyone except a lawyer
- •Write down everything you remember about the arrest
- •Request your admin hearing immediately — your deadline starts NOW
- •Select your state above for specific guidance and deadlines