Hill County's Sober and Safe a success

This past holiday season, Hill County DUI Task Force and Hi-Line Tavern Association teamed up with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to remind all drivers that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving and to always plan a sober ride before the holiday parties begin. The businesses in Havre really stepped up to promote a safe holiday season! There were eye-catching posters all over town, raising awareness to the issue and problem-solving programs. Gary & Leo’s Fresh Foods, liquor stores and even hotels handed out informational fliers with each transaction, and every tavern advertised the Designated Driver and Home Free Programs.

The “Home Free” service provided on this past New Year’s Eve is a critically important part of our holiday Sober & Safe Campaign. This was our 21st year, and we are very grateful to those who make it all possible. This year, designated drivers provided 300 rides so that those who chose to celebrate New Year’s Eve with alcohol were able to travel safely. The Hill County DUI Task Force believes that this program quite literally saves lives and protects people and property from serious injury, ensuring that many alcohol-impaired drivers were not driving our streets on New Year’s Eve. As a result, the whole community was safer.

Our sincerest appreciation to you folks at Havre Ford for dispatching calls and providing the drivers, cars, and safe rides. You all do the heavy lifting on New Year’s Eve, and we appreciate it. Thank you! Thank you to Triangle Communications for partnering with us once again and for providing the phones used to receive and dispatch the requests for a designated ride. And we couldn’t have gotten out the word about the Sober & Safe Campaign without the funding help and cooperation of the Hi-line Tavern Association and the DUI Task Force, as well as the special ad prices afforded us by the Havre Daily News and New Media Broadcasters. So thanks to all of you, too! On behalf of the DUI Task Force, We hope you all have a safe, prosperous, and happy 2017! Thanks again for helping make our community safer! If you seek more information about the Designated Driver Program or the Home Free Program, please contact Jessie Henderson at the HELP Committee, (406)265-6206 ext. 322.

Clay Vincent

DUI Taskforce/Health Department