DPS Warns: Get A Sober Ride For St. Patrick's Day
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Nearly 127 million people across the country plan to celebrate St. Patrick's Day on Tuesday. Those who do celebrate usually wear lots of green and spend lots of green.
Because many observe the holiday with adult beverages, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety wanted to remind everyone to make sure they line up a sober ride if they're planning on being out and about.
Nearly a third of holiday celebrations will be at a bar, according to the National Retail Federation. The age group most likely to celebrate: those between 25 and 34 years old. They spend on average around $37, up a dollar from last year.
Law enforcement officials say they will be adding extra DWI patrols on Tuesday.
Metro Transit is offering free rides on all bus, light rail and Northstar lines during St. Patrick's Day. The free rides start at 6 p.m. Tuesday and go until 3 a.m. on Wednesday.
"This is the first year that the green line has actually run to St. Paul on St. Patrick's Day," Metro Transit spokesperson Howie Padilla said. "Even without that last year, Metro Transit delivered 48,000 free rides with our partners over at Miller Lite. That's 48,000 rides that were given safely and reliably."
In greater Minnesota, however, cab companies are the safe alternative to driving.
At Chatters Restaurant & Bar in Monticello, people who need a cab ride will get a voucher good for up to $5 off a ride with one of the local taxi companies, in an area where the average cab ride home costs around $10.
Chatters is one of 13 bars in Wright County participating in the Safe Ride program, which claims 17,000 people have been driven home in the past five years in Wright County alone.
People who run the bars say people are usually OK with talking about whether they should drive. Offering a voucher is a good way to start the conversation.
St. Patrick's Day fell on a Monday last year. During that long holiday weekend, nearly 500 people were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Minnesota.
Overall, the Minnesota DPS said that DWI arrests on St. Patrick's Day are on the decline. Last year, there were 106 arrests in Minnesota, the lowest figure during the last five years.