Albany police warn against New Year’s Eve drunk driving, gunfire and fireworks

ALBANY — The Albany Police Department pledged to be out in full force on New Year’s Eve and warned drivers not to get behind the wheel of a vehicle if they’ve been drinking.

“Don’t drink and drive — they never go together. If you are going to drink, be a passenger,” APD Cpl. Brian Covington said. “Have a sober driver, take a cab around the city or don’t drive at all if you don’t have anyone who can take you anywhere. That’s the best way we can keep you and everyone else safe.”

Covington then cautioned citizens about illegal fireworks and gunfire at midnight.

“We do have some people who like to shoot guns and or fireworks on New Year’s Eve at midnight,” he said. “Of course, we are discouraging that completely, as it is against the law. We will not allow any celebratory gunfire in the city limits of Albany or in Dougherty County.”

The corporal added that with a surge of people coming into the city, domestic violence is also a major concern.

“Just like all holidays, we have an influx of people coming into town. Family members will be coming home to visit their families, friends are coming to visit,” Covington said. “With families and friends visiting sometimes there are parties going on and of course there is drinking and things of that nature. And if you have too much drinking, sometimes you have family disturbances.”

He said the holiday will not prevent the city’s curfew from being enforced.

“Curfews will still apply. If you are under the age of 18 you are to be inside by 11 p.m. If you are over the age of 18, you can stay out all night,” Covington said. “Because of the parties that will be going on, we want the children to be safe. We know some teenagers drink at these parties and we also know they get into some clubs, but we want them to know that the curfew will be enforced and that they will have to be indoors at those particular times.”

Covington urged New Year’s revelers to act responsibly.

“I want to again remind people that we will be out in full force on New Year’s Eve with the officers we already have on staff. But we aren’t anticipating any problems and we will be placing a major emphasis on drunk driving,” he said. “It all depends on people making sure they are responsible for themselves and their actions.

“If we can make sure that they keep that in mind then we’ll all have a great night.”

Harris Blackwood, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, has said that the state will continue to enforce Georgia’s Operation Zero Tolerance for impaired driving campaign through New Year’s Day. Noting options such as AAA’s Tow To Go program, he said there is no excuse for drunk driving.

“There are so many options to make sure you get home safely at the end of the night,” Blackwood said. “Volunteer to be your group’s sober ride this year, or download the Drive Sober, Georgia app with a list of sober ride options near you, or arrange to stay the night where you’re ringing in the New Year.”

For the Thanksgiving to New Year’s holiday period last year, drunk drivers caused 1,143 auto crashes, killing 18 people and injuring another 684, he said.

“Last year during the holidays, we lost 18 people on Georgia roads to impaired drivers,” Blackwood said. “Those 18 people could still be here today, celebrating the new year with their loved ones, if those drivers had simply called a cab or designated a sober driver at the beginning of the night. These incidents are avoidable, and the solutions are simple. Don’t drink and drive.”