Designated drivers who refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages while visiting Old Town Night Clubs will be rewarded for not drinking and receive a prize from Officer Chris Doyle and Officer Jamie Cavitt. The prize give-away is just one segment of an evening of activities geared toward educating citizens on the dangers of drinking and driving. Many of the clubs will be providing free soft drinks and free or reduced admission to designated drivers.
Thus far in 2002, there have been 32 traffic fatalities in the City of Wichita. Of those, alcohol was a contributing factor in 18 of the deaths.
Officer John Crane will be giving field sobriety demonstrations, and he will also have his golf cart and “goofy goggles” on site to demonstrate how alcohol impairs a person’s ability to drive a vehicle.
“Every 32 minutes someone in this country dies in an alcohol related crash,” said Officer Doyle. “If I can keep just one person from drinking and driving, I will consider this event a success.” he said.
Citizens will have the opportunity to view a Police Department Breath Alcohol Testing (BAT) van, and the DUI Victims Center and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department will also be participating in the evening’s activities.
Sponsors of this event include the River City Brewery, Hotel at Old Town, T-95, the Kansas Department of Transportation, Automobilia, Riverview Gifts, Old Town General Store, the Coleman Company, Heroes, Club Indigo, Midwest Marking Products, Ray’s Party Rental and Storer Signs.
“The Old Town Merchants have partnered with the Police Department on several other successful events and we expect this event will have a very positive impact on the community,” said Officer Doyle.
For additional information please contact Officer Chris Doyle or Officer Jamie Cavitt, Community Policing South, at 337-9000 or 337-9200.