The night before Thanksgiving has turned into a sort of holiday for young people to gather and get drunk. “Blackout Wednesday,” or “Drinksgiving,” is now known as “the drunkest night of the year,” steadily rising in popularity since around 2012.

This day is generally revered by college kids and early twenty-somethings, and unfortunately produces more drunk driving fatalities than holidays like New Year’s Eve and July 4th. According to AAA, nationally, 50 more people will die in Thanksgiving week crashes than any other time of year.

Dangers of Blackout Wednesday

Because Thanksgiving is one of the most-traveled holidays of the year, there is going to be more traffic than usual. The increase in traffic combined with the increase in drunk drivers means there are usually more deadly crashes the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

Those who choose to get behind the wheel while drunk are putting a lot more than just themselves at risk. It is crucial that you make smart decisions even if you are going out to drink. This means having a designated driver or calling a cab or Uber.

Even if you avoid a tragic accident, you could still find yourself in legal trouble. If you are stopped and arrested for DWI in North Carolina, you face steep fines and license suspension. Find out the cost of a DWI conviction in North Carolina from this blog.

The Risk for College Students

Thanksgiving weekend is a popular holiday for college students, many of whom are returning home for their first break of the semester. These students likely want to celebrate their homecoming and will go out with their friends, which makes them the chief participants in Blackout Wednesday.

A DWI charge can have heavy consequences for college students, however.

First, college students, like adults, will face the fines and costs associated with a DWI charge and conviction in North Carolina. This includes court costs, fines, license reinstatement fees, increases in car insurance, and possible civil damages.

Second, college students will also face potential community service and drug and alcohol classes, which not only come with monetary costs, but also the time spent going to and from these events. This is time that will have to be taken from the student’s college class and study time, resulting in a potential failing grade.

Finally, if the student is underage and convicted of DWI in North Carolina, they will face a Class 2 Misdemeanor charge. This will result in a one-year driver’s license revocation, community service hours, or jail time.

Contact SeiferFlatow

If you are charged with DWI in North Carolina, your best bet is to contact an experienced DWI attorney to help guide you through your case. Contact our firm as soon as possible if you or someone you know is charged with DWI.