Free 5-mile tows being offered for would-be drunk drivers in Pierce County
Dec 15, 2014, 7:29 AM | Updated: 7:34 am
Holiday celebrations mean more opportunities for drunk driving so police have stepped up patrols, but in Pierce County, they're also offering a brief free alternative. (AP Photo/file)
(AP Photo/file)
Holiday celebrations mean more opportunities for drunk driving, so police have stepped up patrols. But in Pierce County, there’s also a brief, free alternative to help drivers avoid the temptation to drink and drive.
Fircrest Police Chief John Cheeseman says in Pierce County, for the first week of emphasis patrols, anyone too impaired to drive can call one of 13 authorized towing companies and get a ride home, car in tow, and the first five miles are free.
“People don’t like to leave their car and that’s one of the reasons they tell us they do drive drunk sometimes or make a bad decision and drive home,” says Cheeseman.
The effort is being organized by the Tacoma Pierce County DUI and Traffic Safety Task Force in partnership with the Pierce County Tower’s Association.
“From 2009 through 2013, more than 1,000 people died in impaired driving collisions in Washington,” says task force chair Cheeseman. “We also find that impaired driving is involved in nearly half of all traffic deaths and more than 20 percent of serious fatality collisions.”
The emphasis patrols began Saturday night and will continue through the New Year celebrations.
