Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Sun
Metro Police Officer Jeff Dean asks questions of an unidentified driver while conducting vehicle stops looking for impaired drivers at a DUI checkpoint on Nellis Boulevard south of East Lake Mead Boulevard.
Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015 | 2 a.m.
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In a town where thousands of people are arrested for drunken driving annually, on a night when an estimated 320,000 people are expected to turn out for what's billed as "America's Party," you can bet that law enforcement officers will be on the lookout for inebriated drivers on New Year's Eve in Las Vegas.
Between fines, attorney fees, increased insurance premiums and costs, the price tag of a DUI arrest can easily climb into four figures and sometimes five, depending on whether the driver has previously been arrested. For some offenses, lengthy jail sentences are mandatory.
That's partly why Kathleen Bienenstein, Nevada Mothers Against Drunk Driving program coordinator, recommends that celebrants take precautions to ensure they don't wind up behind the wheel after drinking.
“Go out and enjoy yourself, but be responsible because nothing ruins a good time like a night in jail,” she said.
For people who want to celebrate with adult beverages but not put themselves in legal jeopardy — or, more important, not put other people at risk of injury or death on the streets — there's good news. There are numerous ways to avoid drinking and driving in Las Vegas. Here are some of them:
Buses
The Regional Transportation System runs its buses for free from 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve to 9 a.m. on New Year’s Day. For a map and more information, visit here.
Designated drivers
• BeMyDD (Be My Designated Driver) will donate $1 for every hour of service provided on New Year’s Eve to go toward its “PuppyLovin’” campaign to help move dogs out of no-kill shelters so they can be adopted. Contact: 877-823-6933. More info: bemydd.com.
• Safe Ride Nevada. Contact: 702-438-4663. More info: saferidenevada.com
• Drive Me Home. Contact: 702-937-3777. More info: drivemehomelv.com
Taxi cabs
• Yellow Checker Star Las Vegas. Contact: 702-873-2000. More info: ycstrans.com.
• Desert Cab Inc. Contact: 702-386-4828. More info: desertcabinc.com.
• A-Cab Taxi. Contact: 702-365-1900. More info: acablv.com.
• Lucky Cab Co. Contact: 702-477-7555. More info: luckylimolv.com/luckycab.
• Nellis Cab Co. Contact: 702-248-1111. More info: nelliscab.com.
• Deluxe Taxicab Service. Contact: 702-568-7700. More info: deluxetaxicabservice.com.
• Western Cab Co. Contact: 702-736-8000. More info: westerncabcompany.com.
• Frias Transportation, operator of Ace Cab, A-North Las Vegas Cab (ANLV), Union Cab and Virgin Valley Cab. Contact: 702-888-4888 or text 702222
Ride-sharing
• Las Vegas’ newest transportation options, Uber and Lyft, offer smart phone apps for requesting and paying for rides. More information: uber.com or lyft.com/cities/las-vegas.
Towing
AAA offers free car tows to your home within 10 miles of the pickup location its Tipsy Tow service. An AAA membership is not required. Contact: 800-222-4357. More info here.
Monorail
The Las Vegas Monorail will also be open from 7 a.m. on New Year’s Eve to 3 a.m. on Jan. 2. Locals with a valid Nevada ID can purchase one-way tickets for $1 from any monorail ticket office before 11 p.m. For a map and more information, visit: http://www.lvmonorail.com/customer-service/
This story was revised to include information about the monorail.
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