The Mississippi Highway Patrol is encouraging drivers to think twice before they get behind the wheel of a car after New Year’s Eve drinking.
“We encourage people who are out celebrating New Year’s Eve to have a designated driver,” said MHP spokesperson Corporal Chris Turnipseed. “If they don’t have a designated driver and plan to drink and drive, then we’ll have officers that are ready.”
Law enforcement agencies across the state will be out in full force Tuesday night as part of the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. Sponsored by the federal government, agencies nationwide use grant money to pay for DUI enforcement officers. As a result, MHP will have approximately 140 additional officers working the highways Tuesday night.
“The guys that would normally be off that night will be out patrolling strictly for the purpose of DUI enforcement,” Turnipseed said.
With the extra law enforcement on the highways, Turnipseed said intoxicated drivers will get caught.
“Nobody ever plans on it happening to them but it does,” he said. “You will get caught.”
Turnipseed said the cost of a DUI isn’t worth the risk.
“You can kill someone,” Turnipseed said. “And even if you don’t, it’s going to cost you either way. When you get a DUI it can cost you up to $10,000 in fines. You’ll have lawyer fees and your insurance is going to go up. It’s going to cost you a lot of money. It’s just not worth the risk.”
Atlas Recovery and Towing is offering “Tipsy Towing” on New Year’s Eve night. The towing company will offer free tows to vehicles inside of Columbus city limits as long as the destination is less than 15 miles away.
For those who are considering drinking and driving, Turnipseed had a word of advice.
“You can either spend the night at home or you can spend the night in jail,” he said. “It’s up to you.”
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
