Montgomery County Steps Up Impaired Driving Enforcement and Offers Safe Ride Options Ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, Monday, March 17 – MocoFeed

With the approach of St. Patrick’s Day on Monday, March 17, the Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) and the County’s Department of Transportation (MCDOT) are urging those who choose to celebrate with alcohol 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.

“This coming weekend will include many events to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and its traditions, and I want to encourage everyone to do so responsibly,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “We must all do our part to keep our shared roadways safe for everyone.”

MCDOT strongly advises celebrants to make arrangements ahead of time for safe transportation to and from events. The County’s Vision Zero effort to prevent death and injury on Montgomery County roadways offers a listing of local safe rides on its website .

“According to NHTSA, more than one out of every three traffic fatalities that occurred during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday in 2018-2022 involved impaired drivers,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “We have resources available, including a robust public transportation system and free or discounted rideshare through SoberRide, to ensure nobody needs to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.”

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

“We want everyone to enjoy their St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, and we strongly encourage making responsible choices when it comes to getting home safely,” said Montgomery County Police Chief Marc Yamada. “Plan ahead, use a designated driver or a safe ride service and help keep our roads safe for everyone.”

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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 Saturday, March 15 on SoberRide.com . The codes are valid for up to $15 off one ride home taken in Lyft’s Washington, D.C. coverage area nightly from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. from Saturday, March 15 through Tuesday early morning, March 18. Participants must be 21 or older.

• MCDOT’s Ride On bus – is available with fare of $1 on all County buses, 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.

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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