If you’re going to go have a few drinks tonight, better call an Uber or find another ride home. Due to COVID-19 mitigations, the Winnebago County Sherriff’s office will not be offering its ‘Safe Ride Home’ program on New Year’s Eve.

This was a program in the past where people could call the non-emergency number in Winnebago County and deputies would pick them up from anywhere in the county and drop them off at home.

Officers gave 62 rides last year in 2019, and 26 rides in 2018 on NYE. The program was also canceled this year on Black Wednesday, the night before Thanksgiving, by the Winnebago County Sherriff’s Department. The program came at no cost to tax payers and is normally sponsored by LaMonica Beverages.

If you’re going to celebrate tonight, don’t be a firecracker and drive lit. Call a cab, a Uber, or even a friend who isn’t going out.