Highway Patrol Issues St. Patrick’s Day Warning

MUSKINGUM COUNTY, Ohio-The Ohio Highway Patrol is issuing a warning to motorists for this Wednesday’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. 

St. Patrick’s Day is a social holiday characterized by alcohol consumption. The Highway Patrol warns against the dangers of driving under the influence. 

“For St. Patrick’s Day we just wanna encourage motorists and remind them not to drink and drive. If you’re going to be out celebrating and enjoying festivities, we want you to be safe and we want you to designate a sober driver… designating a sober driver ensures that you and everyone else is getting home safe. There’ve been countless deaths over the years on St. Patrick’s Day related to impaired driving.”, Trooper Brice Nihiser told WHIZ.

The Highway Patrol will have an increased presence to enforce safe driving measures. From 2016 to 2020 there were 691 OVI arrests made in Ohio on St. Patrick’s Day.  

“If you are arrested for impaired driving there’s the possibility that you’re going to spend the night in jail, you’re going to have those fines and ultimately you’re going to have a court date, and we just remind drivers that it’s not worth the risk of drinking and driving. Designate that sober driver.”, Nihiser continued.

If you do observe impaired driving the highway patrol does encourage you to report it by call pound sign 677.