Tavern Taxi helps in DWI crackdown

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - APD says it's paying extra attention to the holidays this year, giving holiday drunk drivers a free ride to jail, but there's another free option that's a lot safer.
    
Police are stepping up patrols to find those driving after having a few too many Christmas spirits.
    
There has been no shortage of Bernalillo County drivers hauled into MDC for a holiday behind bars.
    
From Christmas Eve thru Tuesday afternoon, there have been more than a half dozen DWI arrests.
    
“Last year, just last year, 75 people were arrested in Bernalillo County were arrested for driving while intoxicated on Christmas and New Year's Day alone, New Year's Eve,” Mayor R.J. Berry said.

APD says they see in increase in holiday arrests every year.

“We make more arrests every year during the holiday season with people who it's their first arrest or their first encounter with law enforcement in many cases,” Chief Ray Schultz said.
    
Santa isn't the only one working on Christmas, APD is stationing 20 more officers on the roads to conduct random patrols and specifically look for drunk drivers.

“The last thing we want to do is ruin somebody's Christmas,” Schultz said.
    
With little open on Christmas Day, there was still a free option to get home.
    
Tavern Taxi, Bernalillo County’s free taxi service, was open for Christmas.
    
It's provided thousands of rides since thanksgiving 2011 and it's a lot better than the alternative. Tavern Taxi will also be running New Year’s Eve.
    
There's a proposal to strengthen DWI penalties that state lawmakers will consider next year.
    
A habitual drunk driver can get as much as twelve years in prison if the changes are approved.