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Organization: Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station
Date: December 29, 2008
SCV Sheriffs Stress Safe New Year
As the New Year approaches, the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station would like to remind all residents to celebrate responsibly. Successful New Year's Eve celebrations begin with careful planning and prudent judgment and any alcohol related event should include arrangements for designated drivers or other safe alternative accommodations. A designated driver is an individual within a group of people drinking alcoholic beverages at an event/establishment who remains sober to drive the others home afterwards.
"We can't stress enough the importance of celebrating New Year's Eve without endangering yourself, loved ones, or others in the community", said Captain Anthony La Berge. "Make it a joyous start to 2009, not a tragic one!"
Every year during the holiday season, and particularly on New Year's Eve, some individuals make poor choices such as drinking alcohol and driving or firing bullets into the air in "celebration". The critical importance of avoiding either of these cannot be overstated, as they can both have deadly results.
Many times, individuals involved in celebrating New Year's Eve with gunfire do not realize the dangers posed by their actions. When a bullet is fired into the air it will climb two miles, remain in flight for more than a minute, and ultimately fall back to earth with enough velocity to injure or kill someone. At the very least, this method of celebration could result in severe consequences from law enforcement officials and the judicial system.
In an effort to keep everyone safe and ensure we all have a cheerful transition into 2009, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department will be increasing patrols in many areas during the New Year's Eve holiday and will be specifically looking for drunk drivers and those who choose to celebrate in an unlawful manner.
Don't Drink and Drive! Remember, underage drinking is against the law, but don't complicate matters by also driving. Be aware that the Santa Clarita Safe Rides is a program independent of the Sheriff's Department that provides free, safe and confidential rides home to teenagers who are not in a condition to drive or want to avoid being a passenger with a dangerous driver. On New Years Eve or any Friday or Saturday night you can simply call (661) 259-6330. Although the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department does support the free service, as it has undoubtedly helped save lives, we do not condone underage/teenage drinking. The fact is, since programs such as Safe Rides and Every 15 Minutes have been in existence, D.U.I. related traffic collisions and deaths involving teenage drivers have decreased remarkably in the Santa Clarita Valley. Drunk Driving: Over the Limit — Under Arrest! Stay Safe — Stay Sober — Stay Alive!
By following a few precautionary holiday safety guidelines and making responsible choices, we can all have the peaceful and uneventful holiday experience we envision and deserve. On behalf of all the staff at your Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station, Happy New Year! Read more about D.U.I. from the National Transportation Safety Board Alert and statistics by clicking here.
If You See Something, Say Something! Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847.
