L.I. Cab Companies Offer Drunk Party-Goers Free Ride

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- With a spike in drunk driving arrests on Long Island recently, Nassau County police have teamed up with taxi cab companies to offer free rides home for those who may have had one too many during a holiday party.

Six cab companies in the county and eastern Queens – including Deluxe Transportation, Ollie's Taxi & Airport Service, All Island Transportation, Taxi Latino, Luxury Transportation and Glen Belle Car Service -- will participate in the program that will run through January 2.

WCBS 880's Sophia Hall Reports

WCBS 880's Sophia Hall spoke with Police Lieutenant Kevin Smith about the recent string of intoxicated men and women driving in the wrong direction.

"We've had a couple of cases that were serious -- a New York City police officer lost his life, a driver going the wrong way on the expressway. High speeds, wrong-way drivers -- it's a bad situation," Smith said.

The comments were in reference to the death of Officer Andre Menzies, who was killed on Nov. 15 while driving on the Northern State Parkway shortly after midnight.

Authorities said a drunken driver going the wrong way hit the 35-year-old Menzies. That driver was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated and reckless driving.

Smith said the cab drivers will not only take a person home, but would pick them up the next day and bring them to their vehicle free of charge.

"You don't have to pay a dime. You can call them up and they'll come and take you home," Smith said.

Smith called the program "a great public service" and said it could "certainly make the roads safer."

"This time of year when there are a lot of holiday parties -- sometimes people are under a lot of stress to get things done and you don't have to think anymore. If you've gone out and you've had too much to drink, give them a call," he said.

The number to call to use the cab services is (516) 326-9090.