Ten Yakima County drivers received a DUI arrest as a Christmas gift on Wednesday. Perhaps a lump of coal would have made a finer gift.

The motorists were booked and charged with suspicion of driving under the influence, reports the Yakima Herald Republic. The Washington State Patrol made most of the arrests and one suspect was taken to Toppenish jail. The ten drivers charged does not include other drivers who may have been released or were booked into a city jail. So there may have been even more DUI arrests over Christmas.

Since Thanksgiving weekend, the Washington State Patrol has been running emphasis patrols in areas susceptible to DUIs. Since DUI checkpoints are illegal in the State of Washington, the emphasis patrols basically consist of increased numbers of law enforcement personnel dedicated to spotting and stopping drunk drivers. Oftentimes, the Washington State Patrol will join forces with local law enforcement to combat the DUIs. The emphasis patrols are reported to last until New Year's Day.

Every year, state officials say that almost 50 people die in traffic crashes during the holiday season. To no surprise, driving under the influence has been the most common reason cited for these traffic deaths. As a result, law enforcement are particularly vigilant to driving under the influence in the month of December.

If you have been charged with a DUI in the King County area, you should know that you face very serious penalties. While drunk driving may be a common crime, it is still considered a very serious offense that can carry mandatory jail time, monetary fines, and other penalties. To learn more about possible penalties and your options for defense, you will want to talk to an experienced attorney.

You can schedule a consultation with an attorney at Wolff Criminal Defense by calling 425-284-2000. The attorneys regularly handle cases throughout King County, as well as in the municipal courts in Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland and Redmond.  We will review the specifics facts of your case and assist you through every step of this difficult process.