GOSHEN – Dana Distributors, the Budweiser Beer distributor in Goshen, is once again footing the bill for the Alert Cab rides home New Year’s Eve for anyone who has had too much to drink at their local bar or pub.
Participating local taxicab companies in Sullivan, Orange and Rockland counties, and Lyft drivers for the second year will provide free transportation home within 10 miles of the pub.
Top law enforcement officials from the three counties gathered at Dana’s headquarters on Monday to urge people to drink responsibly, assign a designated driver or use the Alert Cab program to get home safely.
Orange County Police Chiefs Association President, Crawford Police Chief Dominick Blasko, urged people to be smart if they are drinking and don’t drive. “2020 is going to be a new year for law enforcement, a lot of changes coming, but we can tell you that we will have patrols on, not only tonight, tomorrow night, but for the rest of the year to hold those who make the bad decision of drinking and driving accountable,” he said. “Our goal is to keep our roads safe. We have all been part of tragic incidents where we have seen young people, families injured or killed because of bad decisions by drunk drivers and our goal is to hold them accountable and continue keeping our roads safe.”
Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said if you get pulled over for drunk driving, it will cost you $10,000 for legal fees and fines.
Several police officials advised party-goers to have a plan, don’t drink and drive.
The good news, according to Dana Marketing Director Tom Kennedy, is that since their program began 17 years ago, the number of drunk driving fatalities has declined.
In the words of State Assemblyman Karl Brabenec (R, Deerpark), “don’t be stupid; use the program.”
