There’s no excuse for drinking and driving on New Year’s Eve, because the Great Bend Police Department will be offering a taxi service from 10 p.m. until 3 a.m., Chief Dean Akings said.

This is the third year that the GBPD has taken on the volunteer project. Akings and Sgt. Gary Davis will be doing the driving, taking partiers anywhere in Barton County for a $5 donation to the GBPD DARE program. The telephone number for this service is 620-639-TAXI (639-8294).

Akings said he doesn’t mind giving up his time one night a year to drive people safely home. "I think it’s a really good thing to start the New Year by trying to keep impaired people off the roadways. We’re glad to do it; it’s a win-win."

One trip from Great Bend to Claflin last year made it all worthwhile, Akings said.

"Last year I drove these three guys from out of town. They said they weren’t about to take the chance of getting a DUI on New Year’s Eve. They weren’t going to drive drunk and take that chance."

This program has been organized by Eagle Radio for several years. The GBPD took over after the Barton County Sheriff’s Office stopped offering the service. Nex-Tech Wireless is donating the telephones, and Doonan GMC will provide the pickups that Akings and Davis will be driving.