The Gresham Police Department will be conducting extra patrols for driving under the influence of intoxicants over the New Years Holiday beginning Friday and continuing through Monday, Dec. 28-31.
The primary purpose of the extra enforcement is to remove impaired drivers from the roads and ensure that the holiday season is as safe as possible for all motorists, according to officials.
The Oregon Department of Transportation provides the following tips for those hosting holiday parties:
n Have designated drivers. Plan to have sober drivers at your party who can escort folks home. Volunteer to be a sober driver at someone elses party.
n Plan ahead to get keys. Prepare a basket or bowl where all of your guests can leave their keys. You are the only person who can retrieve the keys. This way, you can examine all of your guests for sobriety before they leave.
n Have a cab fare fund. Having available cash to pay cab fare for your guests if they need it reduces the stress on you. If you cant afford to pay for it yourself, ask your guests to pitch in a few bucks on your invitation.
n Have a phone number for a cab company handy. Print the name of a local cab company on your invitation and ask your guests to program it into their mobile phones.
n Purchase non-alcoholic beverages. Always have soft drinks, juices and other non-alcoholic beverages available for those guests who are driving or choose not to drink.
n Plan to be sober. Be a responsible host. Limiting your own alcohol intake will allow you to better determine if a guest is sober enough to drive at the end of the night.
Gresham Police encourage residents to report aggressive, dangerous and intoxicated drivers to the Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications by calling 503-823-3333 or to call 9-1-1 if it is an emergency.