Despite the fact that many Kent-area retailers began to put Christmas decorations up in their stores several weeks ago, this week's Thanksgiving holiday serves as the official kick-off to the holiday season. It will be difficult to escape the holiday lights, festive music, and other reminders that Christmas is drawing near.

According to the Washington State Patrol, it will also be more difficult to escape a drunk driving arrest this holiday season. This is because, from this weekend through the new year, law enforcement agencies in Kent and several other cities in the Seattle area will have increased DUI patrols on the roads, looking for people who may have done a bit too much celebrating at their holiday gathering.

The funding for the increased DUI patrol came from the Washington state Strategic Highway Safety Plan, which is a long-term law enforcement effort that aims to reduce overall traffic fatalities. As part of that effort, there will be more officers on area freeways and highways, looking for the common signs of drunk driving: weaving between lanes, not using signals, or appearing out of control.

Not only will a DUI arrest put a damper on your holiday season, but it will also cost you big bucks. A new state law requires police to impound the vehicle of anyone who is arrested for DUI, regardless of whether it is their first offense or their fifth. The suspected drunk driver must then pay to get their car out of the impound lot.

During the 2010 holiday season, more than 875 people were arrested for DUI in King County alone. Hopefully, that number will be lower this year.

Source: Seattlest, "Increased DUI Patrols on the Way for Washington State Drivers," Hanna Brooks Olsen, Nov. 17, 2011