Four New Year's Eve sober ride discounts, freebies

HOUSTON (FOX 26) — The New Year holiday period is one of the deadliest times of the year on Houston-area roads and the weekend before the holiday is a "no-refusal weekend" in Harris County.

There are extra deputies out on Harris County roads during the weekend into New Year’s Day. They are assigned to focus on one thing: arresting people who have been drinking and driving.

"We have a plan to get you if you decide to drive intoxicated," said Sean Teare with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

HCDAO will have prosecutors, nurses, and judges ready to go all night and every night to make sure deputies have no problem getting a warrant on the spot to draw blood from suspected drivers and arrest them if they have been drinking and driving.

"In north Harris County, if you choose to drink and drive, there is a very high probability you’re going to jail," said Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman.

"You make a plan on what to wear, what party you’re gonna go to," said Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen. “Include in that plan how you get home."

"Have a plan to not get caught by us," added Teare. "Download Uber. Download Lyft. Download the Yellow Cab app."

Safe ride discounts and freebies

The good thing is that there are a lot of free and discounted options for getting home safe if you’re out for a drink or more during the New Year holiday weekend.

One of those is METRO. Buses, MetroRail and MetroLink are offering free rides on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Details: https://metroblog.ridemetro.org/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=396 

If you’re riding with Lyft in Texas, use the code "NYEPLAN18" for a $5 discount on a New Year’s ride.

Houston law firm Sutliff & Stout is offering to reimburse the full cost of your Uber, Lyft or taxi ride home over the New Year’s holiday. Details: https://www.sutliffstout.com/about-us/community/no-dwi-free-holiday-rides/

If you drive to the bars and drink too much, AAA is offering Tipsy Tow. Call them, and their tow trucks will take you and your car safely home for free. You don’t have to be a AAA member.

Details from AAA:

Drivers, bartenders, restaurant managers, party hosts or passengers of a drinking driver may call 1-800-222-4357 or 1-800-AAA-HELP for a free tow home of up to 10 miles. Callers simply request a Tipsy Tow and will receive the free tow and ride home. A regular AAA Texas-contracted roadside service truck will be dispatched. For rides more than 10 miles, drivers should expect to pay the rate charged by the tow truck contractor. The passenger and tow truck driver should agree in advance what the excess mileage charges will be and the method of payment, prior to the tow.