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OREM — Police who rolled out a designated driving van service to help prevent New Year’s drunk driving are calling the program a success after having no DUI arrests or crashes over the holiday weekend.
The Orem Police Department service, known as the Drunk Tank Taxi, picked up six or seven parties in an area stretching from Springville to Lehi Sunday night into early Monday morning, according to Orem Police Lt. Craig Martinez.
The department posted photos on Facebook Monday of police officers who had taken selfies with participants as part of the free ride program, which was one of the stipulations of the service.
“We went into it saying if we only provided one ride home that night that it would have paid for itself,” Martinez said. “In our mind, it was well worth it.”
He said it was the first time he could recall in recent history that Orem police hadn’t dealt with DUI arrests or crashes during the holiday.
With the program proving to be successful on its first attempt, Martinez added he believes the department will try it again in the future.
