AAA offers Tow to Go for St. Patrick’s Day weekend

Party-goers have no excuse to drink and drive on St. Patrick’s Day weekend, and local law enforcement agencies will be patrolling the roads to make sure that doesn’t happen.

From today through Sunday at 6 a.m., Central Floridians can take advantage of the free

service. The 19-year-old program, offered by AAA and Budweiser, will provide impaired drivers with rides to safe locations within 10 miles of where they are picked up.

For those who have their cars with them, a AAA tow truck driver will take both the person and vehicle home.

is provided in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Nebraska and Iowa.

However, it might not be available in more rural areas or during severe weather conditions.

“Celebrating safely is not a matter of luck,” said Amy Stracke, the managing director of public relations for AAA in Florida, in a press release.

Since 1998, the program has removed more than 24,000 impaired drivers from roads across the Southeast and Midwest on celebratory holidays, according to a AAA press release.

Drunk-driving crashes on St. Patrick’s Day resulted in 252 nationwide deaths from 2011 to 2015.

For Service celebrants call 855-286-9246.

Also, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol will work with almost all Orange County police departments for the DUI Saturation Patrol Operation today and Saturday to combat binge drinking on Spring Break.

Law enforcement also will be on the lookout for DUI offenders and criminal traffic violators.

Orange County Sheriff ’s Office spokesperson Dee Clingman said the average cost for a DUI arrest can be nearly $10,000. can