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Police and business owners work to keep public safe St. Patrick’s Day weekend

St. Patrick’s Day weekend is not only notorious for partiers, but also drunk drivers. According to the Illinois State Police, over the last ten years, 30 ...

St. Patrick's Day weekend is not only notorious for partiers, but also drunk drivers.

According to the Illinois State Police, over the last ten years, 30 people have died in crashes on March 17th.

“The Illinois State Police want to remind motorists of the dangers of driving under influence,” said Col. Make Zerbonia. “It could be your life or the life of another that you save by taking the time to designate a driver.”

Iowa State Police report that in 2013, 40 percent of crash fatalities involved a drunk driver, and many of the crashes happened after midnight.

“Over the last four years, nationwide, drunk driving kills on average 68 people each St. Patrick’s Day weekend,” said a spokesperson from the Iowa State Police.

See also, Why you shouldn't even think of driving after that St. Patrick's Day Party.

That's why police on both sides of the river have increased the number of officers on patrol this weekend, performing safety checks and looking for drunk drivers.

Police also warn that hosts of parties can be held liable and prosecuted if someone they serve alcohol to ends up in an impaired driving crash.

"We train all of our servers and our staff that if somebody is looking like they're intoxicated, don't serve them again," said Dawn Lehnert, owner of Great River Brewing Company in Davenport. "We don't let any outside beverages into our establishment, so we know how much they've been served."

Other people said they just avoid driving all together.

"We always walk, either a taxi or whatever we can do, but we never drive," said Chris Vogel, a partier in downtown Davenport.

"We pedal our bikes down here and leave our vehicles at home," Catt Carr said, who lives in Davenport.

"The most important thing to do is just make sure you're patient and have a safe way to get home," said Erik Markstrom, a Davenport resident.

Whatever festivities you may have planned this St. Patrick's Day weekend, the Loop is offering service for Saturday, March 14 to help partiers get around the Quad Cities.

Starting at 3 p.m., the Loop will run its regular route. Service ends at 3:30 a.m. with the last stop in Bettendorf.  Four buses will be in circulation: two traveling clockwise and two traveling counter-clockwise.

Click here for a map of The Loop’s route.

The Loop’s season begins again May 1 and continues through October 31. Click here for rider information, including what it costs to ride.

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