Thanksgiving will take on a special meaning this year as the holiday Drive Hammered, Get Nailed campaign officially begins that day.

Between Nov. 24 Jan. 2, 2011, local law enforcement will conduct extra DUI patrols throughout King County to rid the roads of impaired drivers during the holiday season.

The average blood alcohol level of people arrested in Washington for DUI is about .14. That’s almost twice the legal limit of .08.

Law enforcement officers statewide advise all holiday party-goers to designate a sober driver, take a taxi or choose not to drink alcohol because if they drive hammered, they will get nailed.

In 2009 there were 41,006 people charged with DUI in Washington.

The Drive Hammered, Get Nailed campaign is a joint effort between the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, law enforcement statewide and the King County Target Zero Task Forces.