New Option to Keep Intoxicated People from Driving

“Tipsy Tow” gets you and your car home

Tools

By KTVA CBS 11 News
Bio

ANCHORAGE - Law enforcement is stepping up its drunk-driving patrols for the holidays, so smart drinkers will make sure they have a designated driver.

There's also the "Off the Road" option – the program that takes would-be drunken drivers and their vehicles home safely, for free.

It’s available year-round, a new program has just started this weekend: Anchorage restaurant and bar owners will be offering the holiday version, called “Tipsy Tow,' which will be available until the end of the year.

"Tipsy Tow" is designed to reduce drunken driving, and it's sponsored by the Anchorage Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association, or "CHARR."

The new service will tow your vehicle home while you ride along in the cab with the tow truck driver.

Bar owners with Anchorage CHARR say that whether you take a cab or use the Tipsy Tow, getting home safe just makes sense... especially when its free.

“We've worked very hard to get the word out that it’s much cheaper to take a cab, it's safer for everyone involved, than it is to get a DWI. The expenses are tremendous,” said Darwin Biwer, owner of Downtown bar Darwin’s Theory and a member of Anchorage CHARR.

Both Triple A and Vulcan Towing are working with more than 150 restaurants, hotels, and bars that are part of Anchorage CHARR.

Again, while the "Off the Road" taxi program runs year-round, the "Tipsy Tow" service runs through January 1.
 

You have indicated this comment should be removed.

Close

The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .

lavendar50 said on Sunday, Dec 16 at 11:25 AM

I sure hope this is a huge success in Anchorage. My niece and her husband tried doing the same thing after thier son was killed by a drunk driver in Arizona. After a year of trying thier best, they shut it down because it was a huge failure. People refused to be "embarrased" at being driven home, and even worse driven back to thier cars the next day. They were not going to be seen as alcoholics and because they would be frequently using this free program. I wish much success for you, and the safety of all on the streets.

109348745
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Great Idea said on Sunday, Dec 16 at 10:59 AM

Its great to see some energy and effort put towards helping people who might make a poor decision that can destroy there lifves and sometimes others. there has been so much effort to demonise and criminalise over the years. Not defending drunk driving but I have seen people who have made a bad decision due to the loss of inhiitions that come from drinking have there lives destroyed over driving while drinking. Worse of course is when other peoples lives are destroyed as a result. But there needs to be efforts like this as an alternative to people throwing the dice and loosing and having the harshest of all penalties as a result. Clearly thats not the only solution. The deterant of punishment. Many people think "Im fine" or they dont want to leave there car over night or have to get it the next day. These are good options to make it harder for people to resist not getting behind the wheel.

109347196
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KTVA CBS 11 | Anchorage, Alaska News and Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.