ELKHART COUNTY — Local police are participating in the statewide program “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” in an attempt to crack down on impaired driving during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and basketball tournaments.

Beginning Friday, March 8, the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department will begin using sobriety check points, saturation patrols and other methods to detect impaired drivers in the area.

A sobriety checkpoint will be conducted from 10 p.m. Friday, March 8, to 3 a.m. Saturday, March 9, in the area of Ash Road and Old U.S. 20. A second sobriety checkpoint will be conducted in the southern city limits of Elkhart from 10 p.m. Saturday, March 9, to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 10.

The program will continue through March 24.

Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department Captain Jim Bradberry offers the following tips for drinking responsibly:

• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin.

• Before drinking, designate a sober drive and leave your car keys at home.

• If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation to get home safely.

• If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local police.

• And remember, if you know someone who is about to drive a car or ride a motorcycle while impaired, take the keys and help that person make other arrangements to get to where he or she is going safely.

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