State Troopers Urge New Year’s Eve Partiers To Plan Ahead

As people make their last-minute party plans for New Year’s Eve, Sgt. Shelly Hutter with the Wisconsin State Patrol has some advice: plan ahead.

Hutter said people need to designate a sober driver or call a cab before heading to a party or a bar. Some communities offer free bus rides on New Year’s Eve and the Tavern League of Wisconsin provides free cab rides through its SafeRide program in most counties.

“You don’t realize how intoxicated you are and you make bad choices,” said Hutter. “You get into a car and drive. It’s not just your life, it’s other people’s lives on the road.”

It’ll be all hands on deck for state troopers Saturday night. Hutter said the State Patrol always steps up enforcement around the holidays, especially on New Year’s Eve.

Last year, 27,790 people were arrested for operating while intoxicated in Wisconsin.

New OWI laws go into effect on New Year’s Day. A fourth drunk driving offense becomes a felony no matter when it was committed and the maximum jail time extends for each subsequent ticket. Hutter says with the new laws, it’s business as usual for the troopers.