APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — With New Year’s Eve on a Saturday this year, law enforcement is being extra vigilant to watch for intoxicated drivers.
The Neenah Police Department knows there will be a lot of drinking over the weekend as people ring in the new year.
“The bars in town do attract bigger crowds on New Year’s Eve,” Neenah Police Department Community Policing Coordinator Joe Benoit said. “There are more get-togethers, more parties. I think alcohol consumption is more widely acceptable.”
Benoit said because New Year’s falls on a Saturday, it’s more likely that people will be out to celebrate.
“I think that will make a difference,” he said. “Certainly, people aren’t going back to work on the first of January. So, any time you have a big holiday over the weekend, we are aware that it’s likely there will be extra drinking going on maybe later into the evening.”
If you’re on the roads that night, be extra careful. Benoit said officers will be out too, looking for anything out of the ordinary.
“Every one of the officers that’s assigned a patrol is out looking for minor traffic violations,” Benoit said. “If there’s any hint that someone might be intoxicated as far as swerving or driving with no headlights on or even equipment violations — it’s really no different than any other night.”
Police aren’t the only ones expecting a busy weekend. Bars around the Fox Valley are prepared.
“I think Wisconsin pretty much knows how to go out and do what they do every weekend, and this will just be an excuse for them to stay out a little bit later,” Riverside Bar and Grill employee Cole Plamann said.
The Appleton bar hasn’t traditionally drawn in large crowds late on New Year’s, but Plamann says they’ll still be open extra hours. They want people to have fun and be safe.
“We’re always, always looking for people who’ve been overserved or need to slow down, and we’ll offer waters, we’ll offer rides home,” Plamann said. “We’re part of the Tavern League, so we’re part of the safe ride program. We’re happy to help people provide that and get their taxis home. We do what we do every weekend. We hold these licenses for a reason. We like taking care of people and making sure everyone has a good time.”
The Tavern League of Wisconsin has a program that offers free safe rides home. To locate your nearest ride provider, click here.
With bar staff and law enforcement on the lookout, safety is the number one goal for everyone.
