Montgomery County Increases Impaired Driving Enforcement and Offers Safe Ride Options on St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday, March 17 – Mocofeed

The
Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT), Police Department
(MCPD) and Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) are urging residents who choose to
celebrate with alcohol during the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day holiday to drink
responsibly and to plan ahead for a safe ride home.  

To help
prevent death and injury that often accompany driving under the influence, MCPD
is ramping up enforcement efforts, and MCDOT is providing safe ride resources
for residents who will be celebrating with alcohol.   Montgomery
County businesses that sell or serve alcohol receive ongoing training from ABS
to prevent the sale of alcohol to anyone who appears intoxicated or underage.  

“MCDOT is
teaming up with MCPD and ABS to remind drivers that drinking and driving is
never an option,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “According to the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 38% of the traffic fatalities that
occurred during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday between 2019-2023 involved drunk
drivers. All Ride On buses are zero-fare, and SoberRide is offering discounted
rideshare services. Planning a sober ride is an easy decision that can save
lives.”

Maryland
drivers found guilty of driving under the influence can face loss of license,
hefty fines and jail time. Last year, MCPD officers made fourteen
arrests of motorists suspected of driving under the influence in Montgomery
County over the St. Patick’s Day weekend. 

“We
want everyone to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day, the priority should always be to make
sure that you get home safely,” said Montgomery County Police Chief Marc
Yamada. “If your plans include alcohol, please make a plan for how you’re
getting home before you go out. Use a designated driver, call a rideshare or
sober ride, or take advantage of the public transportation options available.
Making that decision ahead of time can prevent a tragedy.”

ABS,
the County alcohol licensing agency and alcohol wholesaler, provides support to
local alcohol retailers and restaurants to develop responsible alcohol policies.

“ABS
partners with licensed restaurants to make sure they have everything they need
to serve alcohol responsibly,” said ABS Director Kathie Durbin. “We offer free
training to businesses and their employees before they even get a license, and
we and continue that support with on-site educational visits that reinforce our
shared commitment to preventing overconsumption, impaired driving and under‑21 alcohol use. Together we encourage
residents to celebrate safely this St. Patrick’s Day: plan ahead, pace yourself
and choose transportation options that keep you and your community protected.”

Residents
are urged to make plans before heading out to celebrate and to consider the use
of one of the following safe ride options: 

• SoberRide is a free ride home program offered through
  the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) in partnership with Lyft. A
  limited number of promotional codes for Lyft will be posted at 3 p.m. on Tuesday,
  March 17, on SoberRide.com. The codes are valid for up to $15 off one
  ride home taken in Lyft’s Washington, D.C. coverage area from 4 p.m. Tuesday,
  March 17, through 4 a.m. Wednesday, March 18. Participants must be 21 or
  older. 

• MCDOT’s Ride On buses are zero-fare; there are currently
  80 routes throughout the County that operate daily. Download the free, regional
  public transit app, Ride On Trip Planner, to plan
  your next trip.  

To learn
about other year-round safe ride options, visit the County’s Vision Zero Safe Ride home
webpage. The promotion of safe ride resources to curb
dangerous impaired driving is part of Montgomery County’s Vision Zero
Initiative to eliminate serious and fatal injuries from roadways by
2030.  

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For
information on MCDOT programs and services visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow
@MCDOTNow on X, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and subscribe to
MCDOT’s “Go Montgomery!” newsletter. 

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