Don’t Push Your Luck This St. Patrick’s Day

(Harford County, MD – March 13, 2008) – Drunk driving is one of America’s deadliest crimes. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, on St Patrick’s Day, nearly half of the drivers involved in fatal crashes have a blood alcohol content above .08, the legal limit. Therefore, thanks to a grant from the Harford County Highway Safety Committee and the Maryland Highway Safety Office, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting DUI Saturation Patrols on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 – St. Patrick’s Day. Extra deputies will be on duty for the countywide initiative with the sole purpose of locating and arresting DUI offenders. “The Sheriff’s Office continues to conduct DUI Saturation Patrols randomly each week in an ongoing effort to detect and arrest any person who is driving a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol on any roadway in Harford County,” stated Sergeant Joe VanSeeters of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office.

Driving with a BAC of .08 or higher is illegal in every state, but too many are still not getting the message. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, more than 1.3 million people were arrested for driving under the influence during 2007. Both above Highway Safety Organizations share these simple tips to enjoy a safe and festive St. Patrick’s Day celebration without jeopardizing your own life and the lives of others on the road this holiday.

– Plan ahead if you’ll be drinking and arrange a safe way home before the festivities begin. Before drinking, designate a sober driver and give that person your keys.

– If you’re impaired, call a taxi, use public transportation, or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely.

– If you see a drunk driver on the road, promptly contact your local law enforcement agency.

– And remember, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk. If you know someone who is about to drive or ride with someone who is impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving impaired can be significant. Violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, big attorney fees, unpaid time away from work, and dozens of other expenses. Drunk driving is simply not worth the risk. Don’t drink and drive.