LOS ANGELES : LAPD, Rental Firm to Offer Free Rides to Party-Goers
The Los Angeles Police Department and Budget Rent A Car will team up Friday to try to make Cinco de Mayo celebrations safer by offering party-goers free rides home if they have had too much to drink.
The “Paddy Wagon” program has been offered since 1991 on St. Patrick’s Day and was tried out last year in part of the city on Cinco de Mayo, said Kim Seguin, a spokesperson for Budget Rent A Car.
“It’s the first time it’s being offered citywide on Cinco de Mayo,” Seguin said. “We hope to keep the city streets safer for everyone during one of L.A.’s most celebrated holidays.”
Eight vans driven by off-duty police officers will pick up fiesta-goers if they have had too much to drink. The rides will be available from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
People can call (800) 70-PADDY to get a free ride home from restaurants or bars participating in the program.
On St. Patrick’s Day last year, 175 people were given rides home, said LAPD Officer Tom Souza.
There were no traffic deaths on St. Patrick’s Day in Los Angeles this year, “due in large part to the Paddy Wagon program,” Souza said.
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