Sailors and Marines planning to attend holiday parties where alcohol is being served should keep these telephone numbers handy: 301-342-3208 or 3218.

The police and Command Duty Office at Pax River are teaming to provide free rides home during the holidays to prevent drunk driving arrests as part of the DIAL-A-RIDE program.

The program has been in effect for 15 years and has saved many from being arrested for DUI over the holidays, according to Col. Tom "Doc" Dougherty, director of law enforcement.

Sailors and Marines who attend parties or go to bars within a 10-mile radius of Pax can get a free ride home.
"We know that someone may not want to call the police for a ride," Dougherty said. "That's okay, but remember, calling the police for assistance and asking for a safe ride home is not an offense."

The police will not report the rider's name to the command, but will ask for ID, write the name for information in case police get a report from a command that a member has not been seen or is missing.

Anyone who is afraid to call the police for a ride may have a duty driver sent from the Command Duty Office.

"Our goal is to prevent an incident in which someone can be hurt or killed and to provide a safe way to get home," Dougherty said. "All you need to do is advise the dispatcher you need to use the Dial-A-Ride assistance and tell them your location. Then all you need to do is watch for the police vehicle or Command Duty vehicle."

Police or duty drivers will not go into bars looking for callers.

Another option is to ask bartenders to call "Tipsy Taxi" which is also free to members of the military. Sailors and Marines who call a cab company directly, can show the driver a military ID and have 72 hours to pay for the ride.