RI DUI task force out for holiday weekend

A good night out for lots of people catching up at bars and restaurants means an increased workload for law enforcement across Rhode Island on Thanksgiving Eve.

Going out to party on the day before Thanksgiving is definitely a popular choice, so much so that has a rather unflattering nickname: Drunksgiving.

Cranston Police Sgt. Anthony Mchugh said that what makes the night so busy is people reuniting with loved ones and friends they haven’t seen in a long time. But that also means more people will be making the poor choice of driving after a night of drinking.

“Biggest night in regards to DUIs. They want to celebrate with friends and family they haven’t seen,” Mchugh said. “We have the most DUI patrols of the year that are on tonight.”

It’s part of the Blue Riptide DUI task force, where extra patrols in every department in the state are out looking specifically for drunk drivers.

Sgt. Mchugh encourages everyone to enjoy their holiday, but he’s also stressing to have a plan in place if you plan on drinking.

The task force will continue through the holiday weekend.