Putnam County to Provide Sober New Year Rides

The Cookeville Police Department and Putnam County Sheriff’s Department will provide sober rides this New Year’s.

Cookeville Police Captain Bobby Anderson said the joint-program hopes to get impaired drivers home safely.

Cookeville Police Department and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department will provide sober rides this New Year’s.

“Well, we want everyone to have an enjoyable and safe holiday. So the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department and the Cookeville Police Department have partnered together to offer the safe ride program,” Anderson said. “Hopefully, that will reduce DUI and make the roads safer for everyone.”

Anderson said the patrol units will use their vehicles to transport impaired drivers.

“It’s easy to call for a safe ride. All you have to do is call the dispatch at the police department or the sheriff’s department. Let the dispatcher know where your location is. They will send a unit out and the unit will take you home,” Anderson said. “Just keep in mind that the units will be answering calls in between those requests and you may have to wait a few moments before the car arrives.”

Anderson said the patrols will not provide rides to another party or bar.

“So if you are in the city and you need a ride to your home within the city, call the city Police Department,” Anderson said. “If your home is within the Sheriff’s Department jurisdiction, you will need to call the Sheriff’s Department.”

The departments have provided the program in the past. Anderson said he feels the program cuts down on drunk driving.

“It’s hard to tell. If we take someone home that may have driven, we don’t know what that statistic may have been,” Anderson said. “So our goal is to hopefully have improved the safety of our streets on New Year’s Eve.”

The departments will provide rides from 10 pm December 31 to 2 am January 1.