LAWTON Okla_ New Year's Eve is
already a notoriously dangerous night to drive, and now you can add liquor
store sales being at an all time high, making for a lethal combination.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers prepare to be out in full force Monday
night, along with Lawton
police, making sure those who aren't fit to be hitting the roadways find
themselves in jail. This way, they aren't a threat to anyone trying to ring in
the New Year responsibly.
People across
the world are going to be hitting the liquor store before the New Year's Eve festivities
begin, and Southwest Oklahoma is no exception.
J.P. Richard, a
Lawton liquor
store owner said New Year's Eve is his biggest sales day of the year. He only
hopes that their drive home is the last time they'll be behind the wheel for
the rest of the evening.
"Everybody
always waits until the last minute," Richard said. "We were hoping this year,
they'd start coming on Friday and Saturday since we're closed on Sunday's, but
that wasn't the case. So I'm afraid by 6:00 this evening, we're going to be
overwhelmed."
While Richard
can't do anything to protect his customers once they leave the store with their
purchases, State Trooper Hoover can. He said on a night like tonight, the OHP will
be looking for the warning signs of an unfit driver.
"The signs
include drivers changing lanes unsafely, exceeding the speed limit, driving less
than the speed limit, varying their speeds, and weaving lane to lane."
Trooper Hoover said a ticket,
injury, or fatality is no way to ring in 2013.
"The
highway patrol has been keeping accident statistics for the holiday weekend
since the 28th of December," Hoover
said. "To date, we've had 7 fatality accidents in the state."
Two of those
seven were alcohol related. Trooper Hoover
said these stats are better than last year, but any fatality caused by a drunk
driver is too many.
"We like
to think that people are actually doing the right thing and staying at home," Hoover said. "We hope
they are finding a designated driver, taking a taxi, or finding some other
means besides drinking and driving."
Trooper Hoover
said there will be no exceptions made tonight. If you are caught driving under
the influence, you will be taken to jail. Remember, the average cost of a DUI
is over $1,000, so please welcome 2013 safely and responsibly.
