Congratulations to designated drivers Krystle Shifflett and April Lyons for winning the grand prize and second place in the Designated Driver program held during the annual opening of the Tiki Bar in Solomons.
Shifflett, the grand prize winner, won a a cruise for two to the Bahamas donated by the Tiki Bar. Lyons won the second place prize of four tickets to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg including $100 in gas money. Shifflett and Lyons along with 300+ participants signed a pledge card, that was entered into a drawing. Designated drivers received a wristband, keychain and t-shirt at the enrollment booth during sign-up, as well as a chance to win over 400 great prizes: coolers, radios, sling bags, digital speakers, cameras, backpacks, reusable tote bags, and more.
Bob Hall, LLC and Anheuser Busch, worked together with the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, Maryland State Police, the Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse and the Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties Community Traffic Safety Programs to sponsor the Designated Driver program that was held during the annual opening of the Tiki Bar this past weekend. Three retailers on Solomons Island, the Tiki Bar, Catamarans and Calypso Bay, participated in the program. These establishments offered free snacks and nonalcoholic beverages to designated drivers who signed up at the Designated Driver booth beside the Tiki Bar.
Many lives were spared thanks to all who participated in this program. An estimated 20,000 people visited the island this weekend: 10,000 on Friday night, between 8,000 – 9,000 on Saturday and about 2,0000 people on Sunday. A total of 21 DUI arrests were made in Calvert County throughout the weekend, in addition to 31 arrests for disorderly conduct, failure to obey lawful order of a police officer, CDS violations, warrants for wanted persons, etc.
“Overall, the weekend went very well, everyone seemed to have a good time and got home safe,” Tiki Bar owner, Terry Clarke added.
The number of DUI arrests for opening weekend of Tiki Bar this year was no different from a regular weekend in the County, Lt. Col. Tom Hejl from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office noted. To date, the total number of DUI arrests is 317. With programs like Designated Driver, the county hopes to keep those numbers down.
According to Lt. Randy Stephens, Commander of the Maryland State Police Barrack “U” in Prince Frederick, alcohol impairment was a factor in six of nine fatalities on Calvert County’s roadways last year, including a fatal crash following last year’s event on Solomons Island.
Calvert County Sheriff Mike Evans states that almost 1,000 people were arrested last year for drunk driving and cautions, if you drink, please don’t drive.
Maryland State Police and the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, as well as law enforcement from neighboring jurisdictions, conducted several DUI saturation patrols this past weekend as part of Maryland’s “Checkpoint Strikeforce – Over the Limit, Under Arrest” campaign. These enforcement efforts are funded through the State Highway Administration’s Maryland Highway Safety Office and will continue throughout the spring and summer months. Areas where a high number of DUI arrests or crashes have occurred in the past will be targeted for enforcement efforts.
*Photos courtesy of Frances Lopez
