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SALT LAKE CITY -- St. Patrick's Day is as big a drinking night as New Year's Eve, according to Utah cab drivers. That's why some cabbies will offer a discount to impaired drivers Wednesday night, and AAA will give you a ‘Tipsy Tow' if you've been drinking too much.
A local bar that is sure to be packed with St. Patrick's Day partiers was swarming with police officers earlier in the day. They were getting the word out to drinkers: Don't drive home tonight.
- Drunk-driving crashes account for about 36 percent of highway deaths of people age 16 to 24. -National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- In 2006, there were 2,674 alcohol and other drug-related crashes in Utah. These resulted in 1,966 injuries and 68 fatalities.
- Alcohol and drug-related crashes are six times more likely to be fatal than other crashes.
- AAA estimates that a first time DUI conviction can cost up to $12,000 in fines, penalties, restitution, legal fees, and added insurance expenses.
The green tokens found in local bars and restaurants are for customers to take if they've been drinking. Then, if they've had a little too much to drink, they can use the token to get a discounted cab ride home from City Cab or Yellow Cab.
Dave Jackson of City Cab Company explained, "If people take a token, then on the ride home they give [it] to the drivers and it takes $2.50 off the meter, the taxi meter."
It's the first time the cab companies have joined forces with Utah Highway Patrol and Salt Lake City police to prevent drunk driving.
AAA is also offering a 'Tipsy Tow' to partygoers. Just call 1-800-AAA-HELP (800-222-4357) any time between 6 p.m. March 17 and 6 a.m. March 18 and they'll tow you and your car home.
Rolayne Fairclough of AAA Utah said, "There was a study saying drunk drivers took the chance and drove home because they didn't want to leave their car."
But if you still decide to drive drunk, thinking you'll just refuse a breathalyzer test if you get pulled over -- think again. Troopers can now issue electronic warrants on site.
Sgt. Ted Tingey of the Utah Highway Patrol said, "If a person does refuse to take a test, we can get on the computer, submit a warrant to a judge, they'll review it, approve it, send it back to the officer."
Effectiveness of Blood Warrants
| Results | Number of |
|---|---|
| Pending results | 13 |
| DUI drugs | 24 |
| Negative result | 1 |
| Under .08 | 8 |
| Over .08 | 70 |
| Lowest blood alcohol content | .02 |
| Highest blood alcohol content | .32 |
| Average blood alcohol content | .15 |
| <b>2009 Total | <b>108</b> |
It only takes about half an hour, so your blood alcohol level won't have time to drop significantly. But law enforcement hopes it doesn't get to that point.
"We can prevent DUIs from occurring completely," said Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank. "Just drink responsibly, don't bring your keys and have designated driver."
These different campaigns are not to stop anyone from celebrating the holiday, just to be smart about it.
"It's OK to drink, but just don't drink and drive," Tingey said.
"Once we're taking enforcement action, we're too late," Burbank said. "We want to prevent this from occurring in the first place so we don't have a negative impact on people's lives as they celebrate."
The UHP says Utah does have one of the lowest rates of alcohol-related car wrecks in the country.
E-mail: abutterfield@ksl.com
