The Automobile Club of Southern California is offering its free Tipsy Tow service though 6 a.m. Sunday to 13 Southern California counties it serves.

Bartenders, motorists, restaurant managers, party hosts or passengers of a drinking drive may cal 1-800-400-4AAA for a free tow home of up to seven miles.  Callers just need to let Auto Club operators they need a Tipsy Tow.  Both the driver and the car will be transported.

The service excludes rides for passengers, however, and is restricted to a one-way, one-time ride for the driver.  The destination is limited to the driver’s home.  For rides more than the seven miles, drivers must pay the rate charged by the tow truck contractor.

“Drivers should be aware of the high crash risk from drinking and driving associated with holidays and we encourage them not to get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking,” said the Auto Club’s senior researcher Steve Bloch.

New Year’s Eve is a traditional time for family gatherings, parties, restaurant outings and activities that contribute to a more relaxed atmosphere and more opportunities for drinking alcohol, according to Bloch.

“It only takes one or two drinks to slow physical and mental skills that affect vision, steering, braking judgment, and reaction time,” he said.  “Drivers should be aware that the California Highway Patrol and law enforcement agencies use sobriety checkpoints and extra patrols to look for drinking drivers during the holiday.”

California arrests large numbers of DUI offenders every year, enough to fill LA Memorial Coliseum twice.  In 2010 (latest data available) 198,249 drivers were arrested for the offense. 

“Motorists need to be aware that many enforcement agencies are targeting drinking drivers and as a result, arrests for DUI in the state have increased by 11 percent since 2001,” Bloch said.  “The toll from drinking and driving in California is enormous,” Bloch added.  “In 2009, the latest data available, more than 27,000 persons were killed or injured in alcohol-related crashes.”

A recent AAA report found that 10 percent of motorists admit to driving when they thought their blood alcohol content was above the legal limit. 

Besides the risk to the lives of the driver and other motorists on the road, those convicted of driving under the influence can face stiff penalties for doing so.  The Auto Club estimates that a first time DUI conviction in California can cost approximately $12,176 or more in fines, penalties, restitution, legal fees and increased insurance costs.

The Auto Club advises that motorists can keep themselves and others safe and can avoid DUI arrests by keeping these safety tips in mind:

• At social events, designate non-drinking drivers who can get everyone home safely.
• Call a friend or family member for a ride home if you have been drinking.
• Keep a cab company telephone number in your wallet so you can call for a ride home.
• As a party host, offer a variety of non-alcoholic drink alternatives and provide a gift to guests who volunteer to be designated drivers.
• Take the car keys away from friends and relatives who have had too much to drink.