Most Americans are familiar with the term “Black Friday,” the shopping day after Thanksgiving when consumers flock to stores to find bargains galore. Not as many people are aware of “Black Wednesday” or “Blackout Wednesday”, the evening before Thanksgiving that has become one of the biggest party nights of the year.
The night before Thanksgiving has a special combination of qualities that have led to its popularity among revelers. College students and young professionals typically head home for Thanksgiving, making it a convenient time to catch up with old classmates and friends. Most people get Thursday and Friday of Thanksgiving week off from work, ensuring several solid days of lounging and eating. And, in many places, Black Wednesday has become an event in and of itself, with bars offering food and drink specials that cater to large crowds.
Black Wednesday is just the start of a heavy DWI enforcement period that runs through New Year’s Day. If you kick off the holiday season on Black Wednesday remember that planning a sober ride is always the best idea. If you do find yourself in the custody of police the sooner you contact a criminal defense attorney the better off you will be for many reasons.
Getting arrested the night prior to a holiday can lead to a lengthy stay at the jail. Normally if you are arrested on a Wednesday night you can expect to appear in front of a judge and charged within X hours, or released. However, with Thanksgiving being a 2-day holiday this means that if a person is arrested on Wednesday night (or Thursday or Friday, for that matter) they will sit in custody until Monday morning before seeing a judge.
To avoid staying in jail all weekend you need to hire Rosenthal Kalabus & Therrian to have an attorney file a “writ bond.” A writ bond allows an attorney to execute bond paperwork and deliver the cash bond to the jail so the arrested person can be released immediately, without having to wait for arraignment by a judge. Not all offenses are eligible for writ bonds, but DWI and Theft are two of the most common.
If you do find yourself in trouble with the law after having one too many, don’t let a simple mistake ruin your holiday. Contact our office, we are available by phone 24 hours a day at (972) 369-0577. At Rosenthal Kalabus & Therrian, we are dedicated to helping people resolve their sensitive legal issues, get through challenging times and move forward with their future.