Local Law Enforcement issues reminder to welcome in the New Year safely
BONNEVILLE COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI)- As many prepare to welcome in the New Year tonight, Local Law Enforcement is coming together to remind us to be responsible as we welcome in the new year.
"We take that serious in any any messaging and anything we can do to put out to help people make a good decision ahead of time or avoid that if they get in a situation where, they they don't feel like they have a choice, at least they have, some resources that they can call or do something to find a ride home, rather than take that risk, put themselves at risk or other people at risk," Sergeant Bryan Lovell with the Bonneville County Sheriff's Office.
Since 2023 is fast approaching many will be celebrating the New Year with family and friends, and for many travel destinations will be involved in those plans. "We're obviously aware that it's a holiday weekend. And, we recognize that there are going to be some extra traffic and some people that may make a bad decision by getting behind the wheel if they've been drinking. And so we hope to avoid that," Lovell said. Lovell added, "There's just, extra traffic, people going to and from wherever they're located. And then on top of that, we've got, snowy and icy weather conditions. So, be cognizant of that, make safety safe driving, paying attention to your driving a priority. Make sure you're always wearing your seatbelts and and just plan for safety."
Law Enforcement says to plan ahead and if you are planning on consuming any alcoholic beverage to have a plan ahead to make sure you arrive home safe to start the next year. "Rather than having that risk at all, it's worth just taking a moment, whether it's this holiday weekend or any other weekend. It's it's worth taking a moment to plan ahead if you're going to go out and drink or, you know, have fun. We just ask you to plan ahead, be responsible. It only takes a moment to plan and find a safe ride home or have a place to be or a designated driver," Lovell said
They also encourage us that while we welcome in the new year that if we see something that is unsafe on the roads to say something. "Our patrol, our deputies and other local law enforcement partners, they're out and about, anyways and they are taking other calls and things are happening. But we do get reports of intoxicated drivers quite often. And so it's important if you are traveling down the road and you see someone that you think may be intoxicated or is not driving in a safe manner, call your local law enforcement," said Lovell. You can do so by 1) calling 911, 2) your local dispatch through the non-emergency line or the states drunk driver report hot line at 1-800-233-1212 or *ISP on your cell phone.
