Plan ahead, have a designated driver, a sober driver to pick you up or utilize a taxi or ride-sharing service. There are so many options available that there is no excuse to drive drunk. Too many times we have seen someone with the intention of getting a ride home, but instead they decide to drive their own car home. That’s why we’re asking you to leave your car home and “take the keys out of the equation.”

If you are driving and see another person driving erratically, do not hesitate to call 911. We have officers out on the streets and we are looking for impaired drivers. The Springfield Police Department does not take any days off and are working on the holidays to protect you.

The cost of a taxi or ride sharing service is worth it. An O.U.I. offense could cost you thousands of dollars in court and legal fees. Plus, your insurance premium will rise, costing you more money each year. A refusal to use take a breathalyzer test will result in the immediate suspension of your license for at least 180 days.

Use common sense if you are drinking. Being drunk is a relative term. The legal limit is .08. Generally, that means 3 or 4 12 oz. beers in an hour or 4 or 5 12 oz. beers in two hours will push your BAC towards the legal limit if not over. For every alcoholic drink you have, it takes more than an hour for that alcohol to leave your system. Remember, your alcoholic drinks add up fast. Two tall glasses of beer equates to roughly four drinks. The amount of liquor in a drink also widely varies, as does the amount of wine poured in a glass. Alcohol content also varies, as some beers like IPA’s have much higher alcohol content and can push you towards that legal limit even faster. Know what you are drinking and know your own tolerance.

The Springfield Police Department urges you to stay safe on the roads.