December 21, 2022  |  02:53 pm

Sheriff Randy Smith wants to make sure everyone arrives home safely this holiday season.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office is joining other local law enforcement agencies in a coordinated effort to reduce impaired driving during the holiday season by participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign.

As part of the state-wide campaign, which runs through New Years and is funded by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, extra deputies will be assigned to saturate patrol efforts to target impaired drivers.

“We want people to know that we are out there, not just this weekend, but every day looking for drivers that are under the influence, and we hope these extra patrols serve as a deterrent to drinking and driving. If you choose to consume alcohol, don’t drive.”

As part of Sheriff Smith’s holiday message, he wants to encourage drivers to make the right choice to not drink and drive.

To help with this effort the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office is offering a Safe Ride Home to anyone who finds themselves impaired and unable to secure a sober ride home.

“If you know you’re going to be drinking alcohol, have a plan. Get a designated driver, call a cab or arrange for a lift from a ride share company. If you have exhausted all resources and cannot find a way to get home, call the STPSO. We will provide you a safe ride home,” Sheriff Smith said. “We are giving everyone an opportunity to get home safely. There is no excuse to be behind the wheel while impaired.”

St. Tammany Parish deputies will provide anyone who lives in the parish a safe ride home during this holiday season. If you don’t live in the parish, deputies will attempt to find a safe means to get you home.

“Our goal is to ensure everyone gets home safely and that we have zero fatal accidents in our parish during this holiday season,” Sheriff Smith said.

Anyone wishing to use the Safe Ride Home program is asked to call the non-emergency number at 985-898-2338.