AAA Offers Free Tow to Tipsy Drivers Celebrating New Year's Holiday

The service will provide a tow home for the driver and his/her vehicle, up to 7 miles, free of charge.

Getting towed doesn’t always have to be a bad thing.

For the 17th year, AAA is offering it’s free Tipsy Tow service to help drunk drivers stay off the road.
Between the hours of 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31 and 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan 1, AAA will tow you and your car home – up to seven miles – whether you’re a triple-A member or not.

Simply call 1-800-400-4AAA and tell the operator, “I need a Tipsy Tow.” A truck will be dispatched, and will tow both the driver and their car.

READ: DUI Crackdown Results in More Arrests Than Last Year

The service does not include rides for passengers, and destinations are restricted to the driver’s home. For rides further than seven miles, drivers will have to pay the rate charged by the tow truck contractor.

Reservations are not accepted.

Even if you’re unsure whether or not you’re over the legal limit, with a service such as the one offered by AAA, it’s better to be safe.

WATCH: 72-Year-Old Driver Rescued From Burning Car Arrested

“Drivers should be aware of the high crash risk from drinking and driving associated with holidays, and we encourage them not to get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking,” said the Auto Club’s senior traffic safety researcher Steve Bloch, in a press release.

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According to AAA, more than 175,000 drivers were arrested for DUIs and 24,000 people were killed or injured in alcohol-related crashes in California in 2012.

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“It only takes one or two drinks to slow physical and mental skills that affect vision, steering, braking judgment, and reaction time,” Bloch said. “Drivers should be aware that the California Highway Patrol and law enforcement agencies use sobriety checkpoints and extra patrols to look for drinking drivers during the holiday.”

Recent numbers released by LA County Sheriff’s Department show that DUI arrests are up this holiday season, with more than 1,500 people arrested in the LA County area alone during a 13-day period.

READ: Cops to Use Portable Drug Test at New Year's DUI Checkpoints

AAA estimates that a first-offense misdemeanor DUI conviction in California can cost $15,649 or more in fines, penalties, legal fees, and increased insurance costs.
 

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