BANGOR, Maine — New Year's Eve is just days away, and like every year, law enforcement is asking Mainers to drink responsibly and to stay off the roads while under the influence.
"We will arrest people for drunk driving and doing stupid things while they’re drunk on this New Year’s, just like we have every other New Year's," Bangor Police Department Sgt. Jason McAmbley said.
Local Bangor citizen Haley Broughton said she takes driving very seriously after being involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler truck at a young age. She said she encourages her friends to be responsible drivers, and she has cut ties with people who irresponsibly drink and drive.
"Even if you’re not paying attention for a quick second anything can happen," Broughton said. "Even though you think you’re fit to drive, it's not safe."
Broughton said friends should look out for each other, and she encourages people young and old to hold their loved ones accountable. She said people can hold on to their friend's keys to prevent them from driving under the influence.
If you are caught driving drunk or under the influence, it could land you in the backseat of a police car. McAmbley said fighting a DUI charge can total to thousands of dollars.
"We will pick you up and drop you off where we want you to drop you off," McAmbley said. "We'll pick you up from where you were and take you to Penobscot County Jail."
Therapist and counselor Geoffrey Keller says he and his wife both work in mental health. In his experience—people who drive drunk or under the influence falsely assume nothing will ever happen to them.
"It’s just not worth it. It can change your life irreparably," Keller said. "It can change the lives of some else—a town—a community. You just really never know how big those ripples are going to be."
Keller said people who drive under the influence often aren't one-time offenders, they just get lucky, until they aren't lucky anymore.
"A lot of the time it’s a long history of substance use," Keller said. "It’s not often someone just one day gets behind the wheel one time. A lot of times it’s an established pattern."
Keller said instead of making the risky decision to drive drunk or under the influence of any substance, people can leave their car at home and uber from one location to the next, or they can allow a friend who is not drinking at all to be the designated driver.
"Just don’t give yourself the option," Keller said.
If you live in Bangor or Brewer, Union Street Towing offers a pickup service every year on New Year's Eve for those who need a safe ride home.
Co-owner of the towing company Sarah Baker said tow truck drivers will pick you, your car and one friend up and drop you off safely at home.
Baker says it's their way of making sure they do their part—explaining that she has a 15-year-old son who is newly driving to think about.
"There’s just so much that could happen, and there’s a lot of distracted driving and just look at the amount of crashed vehicles," Baker said. "Just the thought of not being there to protect him and him being out on his own is what’s terrifying."
You can call Union Street Towing at 207-942-4200 if you're in need of a safe ride home on New Year's Eve.
If you live in other areas, check locally for more resources.