Community Corner

DUI Taskforce to Patrol On St. Patrick's Day

Checkpoints and DUI patrols will take place in Delaware County on Saturday.

The Northern Delaware County DUI Taskforce will be performing patrols on St. Patrick's Day, according to a press release issued to the media.

“Don't think that drinking green beer gives you the right to spill red blood on streets—yours or anyone else's,” stated Haverford Police Deputy Chief John Viola in the press release. “We encourage everyone who plans to celebrate St. Patrick's Day this year with alcohol to keep in mind our anti-drunk-driving campaign slogan, 'Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.'"

The Northern Delaware County DUI Taskforce includes six municipalities— Radnor Haverford, Marple, Newtown, Springfield and Upper Darby townships.

Find out what's happening in Radnorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to statistics compiled the Northern Delaware County DUI Taskforce:

  • On St. Patrick's Day in 2009, 37 percent of the motor vehicle traffic fatalities involved at least one driver or motorcyclist with a blood alcohol content of .08 grams per deciliter or above.
  • In 2010 on St. Patrick's Day, there were 103 crash fatalities. Of that number, 39 people were killed in traffic crashes involving at least one driver or motorcyclist with a BAC of .08 g/dL or higher.

The taskforce issued the following safety tips:

Find out what's happening in Radnorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin. 
  • Before drinking, please designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home.  
  • If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don't hesitate to contact your local law enforcement. 
  • And remember, if you know people who are about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely. 

The press release also stated the taskforce has arrested 68 drivers for DUI of alcohol or drugs and has “issued 26 citations for underage drinking and 373 citations and 342 warnings for other motor vehicle violations.”


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