Utah Department of Public Safety

Media Advisory: St. Patrick’s Day/NCAA Tournament DUI Prevention

Get a PDF of the media advisory here

For Immediate Release:

Law Enforcement Opens Its Play Book to Encourage Drivers to Make a Game Plan

Officers are teaming up to protect the public from DUI drivers during St. Patrick’s Day and March Madness festivities.

WHAT: Media event to remind everyone to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and a weekend of basketball games safely by making a game plan for a sober ride home.

It’s a big weekend in Salt Lake City – St. Patrick’s Day and March Madness! St. Patrick’s Day brings many people to their favorite pub for a pint, while the NCAA tournament brings sports fans to their favorite bar to cheer on their alma mater or to Vivint Home Arena where first and second round NCAA tournament games will be played.  With all of the special events occurring in Salt Lake City, officers are teaming up to prevent, detect and stop impaired drivers. They’re sharing their plans in order to encourage drivers to make their own game plans for a safe and sober ride home. Two DUI blitzes will be held over the weekend – the Utah Highway Patrol will have one on Friday night and a multi-jurisdictional team of officers will work one in Salt Lake City on Saturday night. More than 150 extra shifts have been given to law enforcement agencies to remove impaired drivers from Utah’s roadways.

WHEN: Thursday, March 16th 10 a.m.

WHERE: Sugar House Park Basketball Courts

               1330 East 2100 South, Salt Lake City

                The basketball courts are in the park’s northeast corner

WHO:

• Deputy Chief Josh Scharman, Salt Lake City Police Department
• Colonel Michael Rapich, Utah Highway Patrol
• Lt. Brian Lohrke, Unified Police Department
• Captain Tyler Kotter, Department of Public Safety’s State Bureau of Investigation

VISUALS:

• Vehicles from multiple different police agencies will be staged on the basketball court, including Woods Cross PD’s “Choose Your Ride” police/taxi half and half wrapped vehicle

• Display of posters that have been distributed to bars with the “Your Dream Team” message

WHY: Every instance of impaired driving is 100% preventable. Utahns can help prevent the deaths and injuries caused by impaired driving by making sure they always plan for safe and sober rides home. The options available – from designated drivers to cabs to Uber and Lyft – are a “Dream Team” that can help prevent impaired driving.

CONTACT:

Marissa (Villasenor) Cote, DPS Public Relations Director

801.793-8025, mvillasenor@utah.gov