Caution!

Be careful out there! My office, like most around the country are adding extra patrols this weekend looking for drunk drivers. Many of you choose not to drink, but for those that do I feel compelled to warn you on a couple of levels. First, alcohol affects you differently now. It is easy to get caught up in the good times and end up drinking more then you had planned. Also, most states now have .08 as the standard for being intoxicated while driving and it doesn't take much to hit that level. I'm out tonight on DUI patrol and unfortunately I'm sure it will be a busy night. Driving while drunk can kill you and others. Also, even if you don't hurt yourself or anybody else it can cause huge problems in your life should you get caught. Should you choose to drink, don't drive. Have a wonderful time and celebrate life, but just make sure you can keep on living. Happy New Year to you all. Ken Matteson 75

Ken - I'm in total agreement with you. If you drink, have a DD. Life is too good for us right now to be taking stupid risks like getting behind the wheel while intoxicated. We're all about making good decisions, not only with food but with everything else in life. That being said, I hope that everyone is having a healthy and happy holiday season. I'm visiting a friend in Atlanta for the new year. We plan on going to an early dinner tonight and staying off the roads for the duration of the day. Here's to a happy and prosperous 2006! Cheers (drinking sparkling cider!!) -Wendy

Thanks Ken & Stay safe yourself having to be out there with all of them!! Marilyn, the Bearlady

Well, I survived the night, but probably because I took the night off at work (you don't want to be in a dispatch center on New Year's Eve) and stayed in. And I didn't drink either. Don't get to fare so well tonight. Have to show up and although there won't be as many drunks out, we have major flooding going on here with snow levels dropping so I'm sure I'll be busy as hell! Argh! Dina

Ken, Thanks so much for the reminder. I remember in the first few weeks after surgery, I had a nightmare that I drank too much and then drove - it was horrible. (Not as horrible as the nightmare where I was at a buffet of deserts - that was the second night home.) It is so easy to lose control when you drink.. I am continually surprised when people point out that I am *DRUNK* after one glass of wine. I can't drive after any amount of alcohol now -- but that's ok. How important is drinking, really? It shouldn't ever be necessary. LOVE YA Jen M

Thanks for the kind words. The night went well, in regards to officer safety. In our five our shift we picked up one DUI, and then arrested five young adults with everything from MIP, outstanding warrants, to having dangerous drugs. I know that things went rather well for the other agencies too, so it is a good thing that people are getting the idea that you can't drink and drive. I hope you all had a great New Year.