Pop the champagne and toast your loved ones: Come midnight, we're leaving 2021 behind and ushering in a fresh start to 2022.But, law enforcement urges party-goers to be smart about the booze."We're asking that people make the choice right now, while they have time, to plan that sober driver in advance to be your designated driver," said Sgt. Ryan Purpura of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.Officials with OSHP reported last year's four-day New Year period as the deadliest, with 14 fatal crashes."Fourteen people that lost their lives and 14 families and those people's friends that had to deal with the aftermath of dying in a crash," Purpura said.Alcohol and drugs were a factor in 10 of those crashes, and officials with OSHP said there were 309 arrests for OVI. Purpura said he hopes the Christmas holiday weekend from this year isn't an indicator of the New Year holiday."Over the Christmas holiday weekend, our OVI arrests were up 12 percent," Purpura said.But, he said, crashes and fatal crashes were down, which he said he hopes continues into the New Year holiday.To help curb drunk driving, The Warren County Safe Communities Coalition donated 50 Uber gift cards for patrons at The Monkey Bar & Grille in Maineville.Those cards were given out Thursday in a unique way."Patrons come in and they just play a game with beer goggles on. drunk goggles," said Mark Altemeir, co-owner of The Monkey Bar & Grille.Altemeier said it's eye-opening."I can see how and why they want to do this, just to let people know the awareness of drinking levels and where you're at with your mind and stuff," Altemeier said.Altemeier said he's grateful for these potential life-saving efforts. "They can use it wherever they want to use it. So they can go someplace else tonight. They can use it, so it was a great gift and great thing that the county did for us," Altemeier said.Here's to a safe, healthy, and happy New Year, everyone!
Pop the champagne and toast your loved ones: Come midnight, we're leaving 2021 behind and ushering in a fresh start to 2022.
But, law enforcement urges party-goers to be smart about the booze.
"We're asking that people make the choice right now, while they have time, to plan that sober driver in advance to be your designated driver," said Sgt. Ryan Purpura of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Officials with OSHP reported last year's four-day New Year period as the deadliest, with 14 fatal crashes.
"Fourteen people that lost their lives and 14 families and those people's friends that had to deal with the aftermath of dying in a crash," Purpura said.
Alcohol and drugs were a factor in 10 of those crashes, and officials with OSHP said there were 309 arrests for OVI. Purpura said he hopes the Christmas holiday weekend from this year isn't an indicator of the New Year holiday.
"Over the Christmas holiday weekend, our OVI arrests were up 12 percent," Purpura said.
But, he said, crashes and fatal crashes were down, which he said he hopes continues into the New Year holiday.
To help curb drunk driving, The Warren County Safe Communities Coalition donated 50 Uber gift cards for patrons at The Monkey Bar & Grille in Maineville.
Those cards were given out Thursday in a unique way.
"Patrons come in and they just play a game with beer goggles on. drunk goggles," said Mark Altemeir, co-owner of The Monkey Bar & Grille.
Altemeier said it's eye-opening.
"I can see how and why they want to do this, just to let people know the awareness of drinking levels and where you're at with your mind and stuff," Altemeier said.
Altemeier said he's grateful for these potential life-saving efforts.
"They can use it wherever they want to use it. So they can go someplace else tonight. They can use it, so it was a great gift and great thing that the county did for us," Altemeier said.
Here's to a safe, healthy, and happy New Year, everyone!
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