“DON’T DEPEND ON DUMB LUCK-DESIGNATE A SOBER DRIVER”

The Ocean City Police Department reminds citizens to stay safe during the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Ocean City. While St. Patrick’s Day has become an occasion for people to don green in celebration, it can be dangerous due to impaired drivers.

Whether you are celebrating at home, attending a parade, or socializing at a pub, there are a few things you should always remember:

􀂃 Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin;

􀂃 Before drinking, designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home;

􀂃 If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public
transportation so you are sure to get home safely;

􀂃 Use an Ocean City bus, for only $2 you can ride roundtrip to your destination

􀂃 If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact your
local law enforcement;

􀂃 And remember, if you know someone who is about to drive while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

In addition, the Ocean City Police Department would like to remind individuals attending this weekend’s 30th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, that it is illegal to possess or consume an open container of alcoholic beverage in public. This includes all public sidewalks, roadways and municipal parking lots, but excludes privately owned properties.

Remember, driving impaired is simply not worth the risk. Not only do you risk injuring yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can be really significant. Don’t depend on dumb luck this St. Patrick’s Day; designate your sober driver before the party begins.

For more information, visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org.