RENO — Northern Nevada law enforcement and Sparks city officials wanted to make clear Tuesday that drunk driving this holiday is not worth the risk and the consequences. 

At a press conference held at Scruples Bar and Grill, law enforcement as well as Sparks Mayor Geno Martini and Sparks judges Susan Deriso and Kevin Higgins encouraged locals to celebrate safely this holiday season. 

“I am here to support this program,” Martini said of local law enforcement’s push to prevent driving under the influence. “It’s pretty simple to me: If you go out have a designated driver or just don’t drink.” 

On Monday, law enforcement across the state launched its annual anti-drunk driving campaign. This year, the campaign’s tag line simply states: Anyone can be arrested for DUI, designate a driver. 

The campaign’s logo uses Santa Claus behind bars to get the message across that no one is exempt from being arrested for driving under the influence. The holiday campaign to prevent DUI-related accidents and fatalities will run through Jan. 3 and includes increased patrols as well as DUI checkpoints. 

While Martini talked about the importance of not drinking and driving, he also said he has friends who have lost everything because of drunk driving incidents. 

“My message is just don’t do it,” Martini said. 

Nevada Highway Patrol Chief Tony Almaraz said he agreed that preparing for a holiday party means more than getting a babysitter, cash from the ATM and wondering what to wear. It also includes getting a designated driver. 

Almaraz said the hardest part of his job is telling someone’s family something bad has happened to them and that he hopes people think about the consequences before they drive impaired. 

“When we think about the holidays we think about getting together with our family and friends,” Almaraz said. “If there is one message I can convey it is that we need to be responsible out there. Remember your family, remember your friends, grab the keys and drink responsibly.” 

Traci Pearl from the Nevada Department of Traffic Safety said sober drivers also need to be aware that drivers around them might not be sober. 

“In 2007 there were over 18,000 DUI arrests on Nevada roadways,” Pearl said. “In 2008 there were about 20,000 arrests. There are people around you who might be driving impaired.”

Pearl said the Nevada Department of Traffic Safety hopes that 2010 will bring a new set of statistics to the state’s books. Their goal is less than 200 traffic-related fatalities. She added that every year 35 to 40 percent of deaths on Nevada’s roadways are from DUI related accidents. 

“We want everyone to have a good holiday season, “Pearl said. “Don’t let it end up a tragedy. Just hand over the keys if you’re impaired or be the designated driver to someone else.” 

Captain John Spencer from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Department said law enforcement has seen an increase in DUI-related arrests but a decrease in DUI-related accidents from 2008 to 2009. Spencer said in January 2008 the sheriff’s department arrested 34 people on suspicion of driving under the influence and in January 2009 that number increased to about 90 DUI-related arrests. 

In addition to the increase in arrests, Spencer related a shocking statistic: 66 percent of children injured in a DUI-related accident are riding with the DUI offender he said. 

According to law enforcement, out of the 324 deaths on Nevada’s roadways in 2008, 126 of those were related to DUIs. Also, in 2008 one out of every 94 licensed drivers in Nevada was arrested for a DUI-related offense.  

In Washoe County, of the 26 fatalities in 2008, 10 involved impaired drivers. 

The other side of being arrested for a DUI is going to jail and going in front of a judge. Judges Susan Deriso and Kevin Higgins from the city of Sparks said they are seeing more and more young adults being arrested for DUI-related offenses, sometimes on multiple occasions before they are even old enough to legally drink. 

“I am here as a judge but on the way over here I also realized I am here as a mother of four boys between 16 and 28,” Deriso said. “If you get the call at 3:30 in the morning, I’d go pick them up.” 

Deriso said she has experienced DUI cases from the bench and as a parent when one of her sons was arrested and went through the legal system. She recalled many of her son’s friends being arrest for DUIs and that many of the young men now fear how their criminal records could affect future employment opportunities. 

Scruples Bar and Grill owner Rollin Lazzarone said he is happy to work with the police to encourage safe driving during the holiday season. 

“I know a lot of bar and restaurant owners in this town and their concern is always getting everyone home safe,” Lazzarone said. “The programs everyone is doing are very progressive and very aggressive to keep people safe.” 

Felicia Archer, public information officer for the Regional Transportation Commission, said RTC plans on running it’s busses for free again on New Year’s Eve from 7 p.m. to 4 a.m. 

RTC receives grant money to provide free transportation on New Year’s Eve, including funding from the Nevada DUI Task Force. 

“New Year’s Eve is a time when people like to go out and have fun and for some people that means going out and having a drink,” Archer said. “We want to keep the roads safe.” 

In addition to public transportation, a company new to northern Nevada called Never Drive Drunk offers rides home for impaired drivers in which a driver also brings your car home for an annual membership fee. For more information, visit www.neverdrivedrunk.net. 

For more information about RTC’s New Year’s Eve bus schedule, visit www.rtcwashoe.com.