Celebrate Safe! Free rides available to keep your holiday from being a tragedy
The Indio CHP Office wants all motorists to bring in the New Year safely. The CHP begins a Maximum Enforcement Period today at 6:01 p.m. and ending on Sunday at 11:59 p.m. In an effort to save lives, the Indio CHP Office is putting extra officers out on patrol during that time period. The extra officers will be focused on DUI enforcement; however they will also be on the lookout for distracted drivers and seat belt use.
“As a resident of the Coachella Valley, I want everyone to enjoy their celebration, but make it home safely,” CHP Captain Laura Quattlebaum said.
“Holidays bring celebrations, which can also bring an increase in drivers choosing to drink and drive, a decision which endangers themselves, their passengers and those sharing the road with them,” says Quattlebaum.
Being arrested for DUI has a major impact on a person, however, injuring or killing yourself or someone else while intoxicated is a life changing tragedy. If you plan on drinking, designate a sober driver, take a taxi or use other ride sharing services.
One program is the “Home Safe” Program which provides free rides home on New Year’s Eve. The “Home Safe” Program, provided through a partnership between Walter Clark Legal Group – California and American Cab will be offering free cab rides to alcohol-impaired drivers, from 10:30pm-3:00am.
To request a sponsored “Home Safe” Program cab ride, people must call dispatch at American Cab at (760)300-0000 between 10:30pm-3:00am and specify they are calling for the “Home Safe” Program. A cab will be sent to the impaired driver’s location to pick them up and drive them home.
Users of the “Home Safe” program must reside or be staying at a hotel in the Coachella Valley cities of Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Bermuda Dunes, Indio, and Coachella.
Also, if you are downtown Palm Springs, revelers who need rides, you can hop on the Palm Springs BUZZ trolley service. They have expanded service New Year’s Eve from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. The trolley resumes regular hours New Year’s Day through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
