Cops Step Up Patrols for St. Pat's

As St. Patrick's Day approaches, the Ninth Circuit Law Enforcement Network and the Mount Pleasant Police Department are reminding drivers not to get behind the wheel if they've been drinking.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports over 700 people were killed nationwide in crashes involving a drunk driver during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday from 2006 to 2010.

“Whether you are gathering with friends at the local pub or attending a party, if alcohol is part of the festivities, make sure you designate a sober driver to get you home safely, or contact your local sober ride program for a safe ride home,” said Lieutenant Pat Carter of the Mount Pleasant Police Department.

According to NHTSA, on average, every 51 minutes a person is killed in a drunk-driving crash in the United States and the majority of these crashes involve drunk drivers  who have blood alcohol concentrations  of .15 grams per deciliter or higher, almost twice the legal limit of .08 g/dL.

To prevent these tragedies from occurring, Lt. Carter recommends the following steps to have a safe and happy St. Patrick’s Day:       

• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin.
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home.
• If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation to get home safely.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local police.
• And remember, if you know people who are about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

The Ninth Circuit Law Enforcement Network is made up of police officers and deputies from multiple agencies around Charleston and Berkeley County and the South Carolina Highway Patrol. They will be working in concert this weekend around the counties doing checkpoints and saturation patrols to keep the roadways safe.