Montanans: Celebrate St. Patrick's Day responsiblyAimee Brunckhorst
From: DawnDkjensrud'Kalispell Police Department <|istserv@dvcp|us.com>
Sent: Friday, March 1' 2024016AK4
To: Aimee8runckhorst
Subject: EXTERNAL Kalispell Police Department PSA: Celebrate St. Patrick's Day Responsibly
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Montanans: Celebrate St. Patrick's Day responsibly by
planning for a sober ride home
Montano low enforcement increasing patrols in KalispelllFlathead County for St. Patrick's Day
0 Montana law enforcement are increasing patrols and presence during St. Patrick's Day.
o Because the holiday falls onaSunday, law enforcement expects increased participation, celebration, and
alcohol consumption throughout the weekend.
o To ensure the safety of communities across Montana. law enforcement encourages residents to plan fora
sober ride home before they start drinking and celebrating St. Patrick's Day.
March 17th, 2024, Kalispell Police Department law enforcement and the Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) are
encouraging Montanans to plan for a sober ride home before celebrating St. Patrick's Day. Celebrations and festivities
at bars and restaurants are common for St. Patrick's Day, and celebrations may happen during the days leading up to
St. Patrick's [)ay. Law enforcement partners across the state will be increasing patrols and making [)U| arrests to help
all Montanans get home safely. Under the Vision Zero goal, Kalispell and Flathead County law enforcement, MHP,
and the Montana Department ofTransportation (MDT) are committed to reducing fatalities and serious injuries on
Montana's roadways during St. Patrick's Day celebrations.
Montana law ensures that if drivers have a BAC (blood alcohol content) of .08 or higher could be arrested and face a
DUI charge and other serious consequences. This can include having their driver's license revoked, being required to
take mandatory classes, and receiving possible jail time and upto$1O.00Oinfines and legal fees.
"Montanans take St. Patrick's Day seriously," said Lieutenant Petersen of the Kalispell Police. "But we all need to take
the safety of our community seriously, too. Before you even start drinking or head out for a celebration, make and
commit toaplan. Choose one of your friends or family members as a sober driver and arrange for them to give you a
ride home. If you see your friends have been drinking, have their back and help them get home safely, too. We're in
this together."
Why is Montana law enforcement increasing patrols during St. Patrick's Day? These are Montana's sobering statistics:
o Montana has one of the highest fatality rates in the nation for the number of deaths caused byalcohol-
impaired drivers per vehicle mile traveled.
o In Montana, 66% of all fatalities in 2020 involved an impaired driver (up from 58% in 2019).
"Please celebrate responsibly during St. Patrick's Day. Have fun and don't drive impaired," said MHP Colonel Steve
Lavin. "We'll be increasing patrols during St. Patrick's Day weekend to make sure Montanans get home safe. Do your
part and plan ahead or call for a sober ride home if you've been drinking. Together, we can keep our community safe."
MontanaDepartmentofTransportat|on—\HdonZero
This is aVision Zero message from the Montana Department ofTransportation. This and other enforcement and
educational campaigns are strategies to reach Vision Zero — zero deaths and zero serious injuries on Montana
roadways. For more information about Vision Zero, contact Tammy Ross, Montana Department of Transportation,
Contact: Lieutenant Dennis Petersen
Date: March 1,t, 2024
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