The Georgia State Patrol it is beefing up DUI enforcement in Athens on Saturday, warning fans that they’ll go to jail if they’re caught driving drunk after the Georgia/Tennessee game.
In a news release today, the State Patrol said it would put more troopers from its Nighthawks Task Force on the streets and roads of Athens Saturday.
“Troopers assigned to the Nighthawks Task Force are the most highly trained DUI enforcement officers in Georgia,” the release said. The Nighthawks were formed in 2004 to cover metro Atlanta during peak times for drunk drivers.
“The Georgia/Tennessee rivalry is one of the best in the SEC, and we hope Bulldog fans and our guests from Tennessee enjoy spending the weekend in the best college town in the nation,” said Harris Blackwood, who heads the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. “If your plan this weekend includes alcohol, then avoid spending a night wearing an orange jail jumpsuit by planning to have a sober driver take you home.”
The highway safety office said impaired drivers anywhere in Georgia should consult an app called Drive Sober, Georgia, which lists cab companies and ride services around the state. Uber, the ride-sharing company, has said its service has deeply cut into drunk driving in Atlanta by providing safe transport home.
The game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in Athens (on CBS). For all things UGA, go to our exclusive site, dawgnation.com.
