Full Notification

Halloween isn’t just for kids. This Saturday, plenty of ‘adults’ will be dressing up, going out, and, in many cases, celebrating with alcohol. If you’re among them, plan now for a safe ride on Halloween night. Even if you “only have a couple,” remember: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.

From 2009 to 2013, nationwide, 119 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving a drunk driver on Halloween night (6 p.m. October 31st – 5:59 a.m. November 1st). A lot of those drivers didn’t think they were drunk when they got behind the wheel. But if you’ve been drinking you’re in no position to judge your own sobriety. Alcohol impairs judgment. That’s why you have to make a plan before you dress up and head out.

You should know by now that it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or higher. Yet in 2013, 43 percent of all motor vehicle crashes on Halloween night in which someone was killed involved a drunk driver, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That’s higher than the rest of the year, when roughly one-in- three motor vehicle deaths are due to drunk driving.

Drunk driving is deadly. If you choose to drink and drive, even if you’re not killed or injured, you can face jail time, the loss of your driver’s license, higher insurance costs, attorney fees, court costs, car towing and repairs, and lost wages due to missing work. On average, you could pay as much as $10,000 for your OWI. And don’t think for a moment that you can refuse a breath test. Refusing to take a breath test will result in the loss of your license and the possible impoundment of your vehicle on the spot.

This year, Halloween falls on a Saturday, which means more parties and more drinking. You can stay safe and protect your neighbors by following these tips:

• Plan a safe way to get home before you party because alcohol impairs judgment. You’re not going to make smart and safe choices if you’ve been drinking.
• Designate a sober driver; take public transportation or a car service, or a call a sober friend or family member to get home.
• Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. There’s no such thing as “I only had a couple.” If you’ve been drinking you shouldn’t be driving.
• Use a sober/safe ride program, [
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local law enforcement when it is safe to do so.
• If you see someone you think is about to drive while impaired, take their keys and help them get home safely.

Last year, the Green Bay Police arrested 11 impaired drivers over the Halloween weekend. This year we will again be out in force over the weekend. Plan ahead. Get home safely. Don’t turn this weekend into a ghastly event for your friends and family!