Law Enforcement will be increasing patrols for the holiday to help keep Missoula roads safe
Go ahead and wear green, eat corned beef and cabbage, dance a jig – celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year on March 17th however you choose! As you prepare to celebrate, don’t forget to make a safe and responsible plan for how you will get home after the festivities. In Missoula and across Montana, local law enforcement and the Montana Highway Patrol will be on the lookout for impaired drivers. “Montanans put a lot of time into planning how they will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day,” stated MPD Sgt. Matt Kazinsky. “So we’re reminding everyone to also spend a few minutes planning safe transportation. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to make a plan to avoid impaired driving. You can call an Uber, Lyft, Green Taxi, or Yellow Cab. Designate a sober driver, or ask someone to call you a ride– you have lots of options, as long as you do not drive impaired.”
The state of Montana has one of the highest fatality rates in the nation for number of deaths involving impaired drivers per vehicle miles traveled. Alcohol is a common part of many St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. That doesn’t mean people can ignore the risks of driving while impaired. If you get caught driving with a BAC (blood alcohol content) of 0.8 or higher, the consequences may include getting arrested for DUI, a suspended or revoked Driver License, mandatory classes, possible jail time, and up to $10,000 in fines.
State and local law enforcement are committed to reducing the number of alcohol-related driving fatalities in 2021 and will be out enforcing state traffic safety laws.