ADDED POLICE PATROLS WILL HELP ENSURE REVELERS DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE TONIGHT

The Cape Girardeau Police Department has served notice to tonight's News Year's Eve revelers that they will have two DWI patrol cars guarding the city's streets against intoxicated drivers.

Sgt. Carl Kinnison said the cars will patrol the city during late New Year's Eve and early New Year's Day. He said the use of the two cars is typical for the holidays.

Kinnison also gave these safety tips for motorists who come across suspected drunk drivers tonight:

Don't pass the driver's vehicle.

If approached from behind by the driver, get out of the way by turning right at the nearest intersection, street or parking lot.

If the vehicle is headed toward or approaching you, turn right off the roadway or onto the shoulder, slow down and stop.

Kinnison encouraged anyone who sees a suspected drunk driver to stop and call the police at 911. Even from a phone booth, he said, the call is free.

Sharee Galnore, coordinator of the Cape Girardeau Community Traffic Safety program, said revelers this year won't be able to take advantage of free cab service offered in the past.

For the past several years, Yellow Cab Company of Cape Girardeau has offered free cab rides in the city through the "Care Cab" program.

The program offered cab rides home from bars or private parties. Last year, the company provided about 50 rides, said Office Manager Lynn Mathews.

Terrence Kelley of the cab company said no one contacted the firm about offering the free rides this year. Area businesses previously sponsored the program, but apparently were unable to coordinate plans this year.

"We just kind of figured it just kind of ran itself into the ground, Kelley said. "Normally a couple of weeks ahead of time we've all gotten together and talked about it."

In the past, Bluff City Beer Co. has paid for printed materials to advertise the program and distributed them to city restaurants and bars. But General Sales Manager Phillip Brown said the company this year tried unsuccessfully to get the program together.

"I guess there were several people involved and there was an inability to pull together all factions of the program," he said.

Bluff City, he said, is disappointed the program is not available and hopes the free cab service will be provided again. Brown said the beer company considers the program a social responsibility that it wants to sponsor.

"We see it as a very good program because our last desire is to see our customers and patrons go out and drive drunk," he said. "We don't want drunk drivers' business."

But Galnore said she wasn't particularly upset the program won't be available this year. She said she believes the program has been very well received and can be revived later.

Galnore said individuals need to take responsibility for themselves while celebrating New Year's Eve.

She encouraged the use of a designated driver or alternate plans for transportation. Motorists also should use good driving sense, and always buckle up.

Galnore also said party hosts should serve alcohol responsibly and make certain their guests don't leave impaired.

She said two in every five Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lifetime.

About 22,000 people died in alcohol-related crashes across the nation in 1990, and an additional 345,000 people suffered injuries, she added.

Brown said the free taxi program will be offered tonight in Poplar Bluff. Sponsors of the Poplar Bluff program include the Daily American Republic newspaper, KKLR Radio, and Doctors Regional Medical Center.