Operators of a new enterprise aimed at reducing drunken driving are offering a safe ride home for inebriated Naperville bar patrons and their vehicles.
Aurora-based Smith Companies will launch NDUIT (No DUI Tonight) next week in Naperville. It allows bar patrons who may have imbibed more than they anticipated to call a tow truck to come fetch them and their cars.
But the service isn’t cheap.
At a cost of $85 for an unscheduled pickup and $2 a mile, it can be an expensive last call. If you plan ahead and make a reservation, it costs $65 plus the $2-per-mile surcharge.
“There’s actually no other service like this in America,” said Frank Sheppard, vice president of Smith Cos. “We picked Naperville because of the environment downtown and the median income being what it is. There are a lot of businessmen and women, and we feel it’s the best place, suburb-wise, to do this.”
The city’s liquor commission wished them luck on the new endeavor this week but questioned whether having a bevy of tow trucks in downtown at closing time would snarl traffic. In addition, most downtown parking is in decks and getting vehicles from the garages onto flatbed trucks could be time-consuming.
Robert Dazzo, owner of Dazzo’s Towing Batavia, is partnering with Smith Cos. on the project. He said his drivers will park off-site and drive customers’ cars to the tow truck.
“We can load off a side street or place where there’s not a lot of traffic,” he said.
Sheppard said he has endorsements from Mothers Against Drunk Driving and will begin marketing the service with restaurants and bars.
“I know Naperville has a horrible reputation for DUIs and the traps on Jefferson and Ogden avenues,” said Timpano Chophouse & Martini Bar executive chef David Sapp. “I know there’s a market, but I don’t know if anyone will bite. I’d be all for it, though.”
Naperville police Capt. Gary Bolt heads the department’s patrol unit and said it sounds like a good proposal in principle, but he doesn’t know how practical it is.
“You can probably pay five bucks for a taxi ride and get back cheaper and more comfortably,” he said. “In the interest of public safety, I applaud their efforts, but I just don’t know how well it will be received.”
Don Ramsell, a local attorney who specializes in drunken-driving defense, said the program has merit.
“Anything that will prevent people from getting arrested on a DUI is a good thing,” he said. “When it comes down to foggy judgment, 50 percent of the people aren’t going to leave their car behind because of the inconvenience and the concern of it getting burglarized.”
He said he doesn’t believe there should be concern over the liability of driving someone home who has had too much to drink and dropping them off with their car and keys.
“There’s just no way that person could be held accountable for someone’s subsequent foolish decisions,” he said. “The guy already had access to his keys and car before; what’s different?”
Sheppard said May 11 is the target date for the program.
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/dupagestory.asp?id=309705&cc=d&tc=&t=
Aurora-based Smith Companies will launch NDUIT (No DUI Tonight) next week in Naperville. It allows bar patrons who may have imbibed more than they anticipated to call a tow truck to come fetch them and their cars.
But the service isn’t cheap.
At a cost of $85 for an unscheduled pickup and $2 a mile, it can be an expensive last call. If you plan ahead and make a reservation, it costs $65 plus the $2-per-mile surcharge.
“There’s actually no other service like this in America,” said Frank Sheppard, vice president of Smith Cos. “We picked Naperville because of the environment downtown and the median income being what it is. There are a lot of businessmen and women, and we feel it’s the best place, suburb-wise, to do this.”
The city’s liquor commission wished them luck on the new endeavor this week but questioned whether having a bevy of tow trucks in downtown at closing time would snarl traffic. In addition, most downtown parking is in decks and getting vehicles from the garages onto flatbed trucks could be time-consuming.
Robert Dazzo, owner of Dazzo’s Towing Batavia, is partnering with Smith Cos. on the project. He said his drivers will park off-site and drive customers’ cars to the tow truck.
“We can load off a side street or place where there’s not a lot of traffic,” he said.
Sheppard said he has endorsements from Mothers Against Drunk Driving and will begin marketing the service with restaurants and bars.
“I know Naperville has a horrible reputation for DUIs and the traps on Jefferson and Ogden avenues,” said Timpano Chophouse & Martini Bar executive chef David Sapp. “I know there’s a market, but I don’t know if anyone will bite. I’d be all for it, though.”
Naperville police Capt. Gary Bolt heads the department’s patrol unit and said it sounds like a good proposal in principle, but he doesn’t know how practical it is.
“You can probably pay five bucks for a taxi ride and get back cheaper and more comfortably,” he said. “In the interest of public safety, I applaud their efforts, but I just don’t know how well it will be received.”
Don Ramsell, a local attorney who specializes in drunken-driving defense, said the program has merit.
“Anything that will prevent people from getting arrested on a DUI is a good thing,” he said. “When it comes down to foggy judgment, 50 percent of the people aren’t going to leave their car behind because of the inconvenience and the concern of it getting burglarized.”
He said he doesn’t believe there should be concern over the liability of driving someone home who has had too much to drink and dropping them off with their car and keys.
“There’s just no way that person could be held accountable for someone’s subsequent foolish decisions,” he said. “The guy already had access to his keys and car before; what’s different?”
Sheppard said May 11 is the target date for the program.
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/dupagestory.asp?id=309705&cc=d&tc=&t=
