— By Cathy Spaulding

Phoenix Staff Writer



Muskogee police and some towing services will spend Friday night watching for people who let their New Year’s Eve celebration get too spirited.

“We’ll have extra units out for DUIs, stopping people for probable cause,” said Cpl. Pedro Zardeneta, Muskogee Police community relations officer. “Having a designated driver, staying at home, calling a cab costs a lot less than having a DUI on your record or paying a fine.”

Punishment for driving under the influence inside Muskogee includes a $799 fine. Outside the city, people cited for driving under the influence on a first offense must pay a $1,000 fine, spend a year in the county jail or both, said Muskogee County Assistant District Attorney Crieg Rittenhouse. For second or subsequent offenses, a DUI could be a felony resulting in up to five years in prison, Rittenhouse said.

People who feel they had too much to drink while partying in Muskogee can call AAA’s free Tipsy Tow service. AAA will arrange to give them, a passenger and their car a free ride home within a 15-mile radius of the call. The service is open to AAA members and non-members alike through Jan. 1 in Muskogee as well as Tulsa, Shawnee, Oklahoma City, Enid, Lawton or Ardmore.

Several Muskogee wrecker services also are offering towing and rides to people who think they drank too much.

Tommy Fulton of Five Star Towing said his company offers the free service year-round. Fulton said the business has offered the towing for the past two or three years.

“It has not been busier on New Year’s Eve than regular days,” Fulton said. “I think people are learning how to handle it (the drinking and driving). The punishment is pretty stiff if you get caught drinking and driving, and it needs to be. I don’t think it can ever be too stiff.”

Citing data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Oklahoma AAA said an average of 80 people a year are killed in alcohol-related crashes nationwide each New Year’s Day. That’s almost two and a half times as many as on the same day of the week on weeks surrounding Jan. 1. In 2009, when New Year’s Eve fell on a Thursday, 73 people were killed on nationwide crashes on New Year’s Day. In 2005, the last time celebrations fell on a weekend, 98 people nationwide died in alcohol-related New Year’s day crashes.

“Every alcohol-related fatality is preventable. It is everyone’s responsibility to make the right decision before getting behind the wheel,” AAA Oklahoma spokesman Chuck Mai said in a media release. “That’s why AAA is asking motorists to visit TakeThePledge.aaa.com to sign a quick, free online pledge to drive only while drug- and alcohol-free this holiday season and all year long. Once you have taken the pledge, you can share it via Facebook and Twitter or even send personalized E-cards to urge others to do the same.”

People can spend at least part of New Year’s Eve in an alcohol-free atmosphere at several venues.

The Plumb Theatre, five and a half miles east of Eufaula, will host a gospel/country music show beginning 8 p.m. Friday.

Mattie Maloy, owner of Plumb Music, said festivities will include finger foods through the evening and a serving of black-eyed peas at midnight. Charge is $5 at the door.

All Nations Mission Center, 1530 W. Smith Ferry Road, will have  New Year’s Eve gospel singing at 7 p.m. Friday.

First Lutheran Church, 428 E. Broadway, will have New Year’s Eve worship at 7 p.m.

People also can drive through the Garden of Lights at Honor Heights Park until 11 p.m. Friday and the Christmas Kingdom at the Castle of Muskogee, 3400 Fern Mountain Road, until 10 p.m. Friday. Evening drives through the Garden of Lights will run through New Year’s Day.