A Little Planning Can Keep You From Driving Drunk On New Year’s Eve

Police are cracking down on this, one of the busiest nights of the year for drunk driving.

A Facebook warning from the Minnesota State Patrol is pretty blunt. Drink and drive on New Year’s Eve, and you go to jail.

On the other side of the river, Fargo police will be out in full force, with twice as many officers on the streets.
 
“We get a lot of calls for service on New Year’s Eve,” says Fargo Police Chief David Todd. “Traditionally that’s a busy night for us.”
 
But you can still enjoy the holiday, and have a few drinks. All it takes is some forethought.
 
Todd adds, “That makes a difference, so when you are impaired by alcohol you’re not making poor decisions.”
 
People usually don’t make the best decisions after drinking, so authorities say it’s important to have a plan ahead of time so you can safely ditch your keys and enjoy your holiday.
 
That’s where Deb Vaagen can help.

Her business, Sober Kitty, gives drunk people a ride home, in their own cars.
She says New Years is a busy day. She’s been taking reservations all day over the phone and Facebook.
 
“We’re stressing reservations this year,” Vaagen says. “More so than the previous years because we’ve gotten so much more busy.”
 
You can also order a cab or an Uber, but there could be delays if you wait until the last minute.
 
“That doesn’t always work out so well,” Vaagen adds. “It’s nice to know that you got a ride home ahead of time so you can relax and enjoy your evening.”
 
The better you plan, the less likely you’ll be stressed out tonight, or sitting in jail tomorrow.

If you wait until the last minute to get a safe ride home from a service like Uber, you could pay a steep price.

The Uber website warns that surge pricing could make your ride more expensive on New Year’s Eve.