Sobriety Enforcement Planned Around St. Patrick's Day

By KRISTAL DIXON

DOUGLASVILLE, GA -- Georgia state troopers are reminding party goers to be safe while celebrating St. Patrick’s Day next week.

Colonel Mark McDonough, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety, noted that driving impaired is "dangerous and not worth the risk of killing yourself or someone else."

If you consume alcohol during your celebrations, the agency wants you to designate a sober driver before the party begins.

“If you don’t have a designated driver, call a taxi or ride share service, a friend, or a family member to help you get home safely,” he added.

Impaired driving is one of the leading contributing factors in a majority of the fatal traffic crashes that troopers investigate. Party hosts can help reduce the number of impaired drivers by planning their events carefully.

Hosts should serve lots of food, non-alcoholic beverages, make sure their guest designate sober drivers, and have the phone number for local cab and ride share companies readily available to those who may need them.

“If you suspect someone is driving impaired, do not hesitate to notify local law enforcement,” McDonough said. “Also if you see someone who is about to drive impaired, try to help them make other arrangements to get home."

The Georgia State Patrol takes saving lives seriously, so troopers will be conducting road checks and high visibility patrols across the state watching for not only impaired drivers, but also seat belt violators, speeders, and other traffic violations that could potentially cause a traffic crash, Colonel McDonough said.

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Image via Georgia Department of Public Safety