Burbank PD Community Bulletin: Celebrate the New Year with a Designated Driver

Burbank, CA (December 29, 2022) - This weekend is a time for fun and celebration as we enjoy festivities with friends and family to welcome a new year.  Make the responsible choice by celebrating with a designated driver. 

This weekend, the Burbank Police Department will increase patrol efforts to enforce drug and alcohol-related driving offenses. The purpose of these enforcement efforts is to reduce the amount of alcohol and drug-related vehicle crashes, injuries, and deaths. Motorists caught driving impaired can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to include jail time, fines, fees, education classes, license suspensions, and other expenses that can easily exceed $10,000, not to mention the embarrassment often associated with an arrest.

The Burbank Police Department would like to remind the community to enjoy and celebrate the new year by enlisting the help of a designated driver. Plan your sober ride home before the party begins on December 31. With so many options available to get you home safely, there is no excuse for getting behind the wheel when you are impaired. 

Please remember that impaired driving is not specific to alcohol.  Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs can cause impairment which interferes with the ability to drive safely.  Always read warning labels and follow all directions for use. 

While medicinal and recreational marijuana use is legal in California, driving while under the influence of marijuana is not. Please be responsible and drive sober or get pulled over!

To avoid a DUI and putting yourself and others at risk, the Burbank Police Department reminds you of the following:

• Always designate a sober driver
• Or, use public transportation or a ride-sharing service to get home
• Have a friend or family member who is about to drive buzzed or impaired? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get them home safely. Drive sober or hand them over!
• Hosting a holiday party? Offer non-alcoholic beverages, monitor who has been drinking alcohol, and help make arrangements to get people home safely

Funding for this enforcement is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

Questions regarding this statement should be directed to: Sergeant Brent Fekety at (818) 238-3240 or [email protected] 

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