Connecticut State Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection

Connecticut State Police Patch STATE OF CONNECTICUT
Department of Public Safety
1111 Country Club Road
Middletown, Connecticut 06457		  
Contact: 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

02/01/2006

                               

SUPER ADVICE, FOR SUPER BOWL PARTY GOERS

Super Bowl Sunday has become one of America’s biggest and most entertaining national sporting events as friends and families gather to watch the big game and to enjoy the festivities surrounding the game. However the festivities can make it one of the year’s most dangerous days on the nation’s roadways, due to impaired driving related type accidents.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration nearly 50% of all traffic fatalities during last years “Super Bowl weekend” were caused by impaired drivers with levels of 0.08% BAC and above.

The Connecticut State Police would like to offer some suggestions to those who plan on using alcohol on Super Bowl Sunday. Act responsibly by designating a sober driver before the game begins. The Super Bowl tends to be an all day event- prevent excessive alcohol consumption. REMEMBER FRIENDS DON’T LET FRIENDS DRIVE DRUNK! Be prepared to call a cab for friend or get that friend in need, a ride with a sober driver.

Commissioner Leonard Boyle of the Department of Public Safety said that designating a sober driver before a Super Bowl party begins and making sure friends don’t drive intoxicated are just two ways of avoiding a tragic accident or an arrest for DWI. The tragedies and costs from drinking and driving impaired do not just end at the potential death, disfigurement, disability and injury caused by impaired drivers. Violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses from attorney fees, other fines and court costs, car towing and repairs, lost time at work, etc.

Colonel Edward Lynch of the Connecticut State Police Department said that State Troopers will be attentive to the possibility of drunk drivers during the Super Bowl weekend and will be aggressively enforcing all motor vehicle laws.

In the State of Connecticut, "football pools" are legal as long as the money take in for the pool is given back to the winners participating in the pool. All monies received must go back to the winners of the pool. No "percentage" or "cut" can be taken by the person organizing the pool for his/her time and/or expense of running the pool.

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