WPCNR MAMARONECK AVENUE AMBLER. December 28, 2005: Mayor Joseph Delfino, Tamara Moore of Heneken, USA of White Plains,  Carole Sears, President of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Richard Biondi of White Plains Hospital Center, and Richard Ammirato, Executive Director of the White Plains Business Improvement District announced at a news conference today that the White Plains-based brewer would sponsor Free Cab Rides -- with fares free up to $50 -- to any local destination within the county to anyone requesting them on the Heineken TAXICAB Line on New Years Eve.

BARTENDERS AND SERVERS will be wearing these buttons to remind patrons New Years Eve that a free safe taxi ride home is a phone call away. The Service is available beginning at 11 P.M. New Years Eve until 6 A.M. Sunday morning. Persons must be 21 and older. The pickups must be made in downtown White Plains, and the destination must be a residence. Photo, WPCNR News.

Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, Dr. Charles Jennings said servers and bartenders in the White Plains downtown, were, by law under the obligation not to serve persons who in the bartender's judgment had had too much to drink. Mayor Delfino said that bartenders would be pointing out the availability of Heineken's free taxicab service to those persons having a little too much to drink.

Jennings also told the CitizeNetReporter that if the taxicab ride offer was refused by the patron, the bartender or server are supposed to notify the police in the downtown about the person's intention to drive. Jennings said there was no central number for bartenders to call to report persons leaving under the influence, but said bartenders will have no problem finding a White Plains Police Officer Saturday night. "We will maintain a heavy police presence Saturday night," Jennings

Commissioner Jennings told WPCNR the police would have sobriety checkpoints to inspect drivers of vehicles arriving inWhite Plains and leaving White Plains Saturday evening

Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, Dr. Charles Jennings said servers and bartenders in the White Plains downtown, were under the obligation not to serve persons who in the bartender's judgment had had too much to drink. Mayor Delfino said that bartenders were encouraged by the Department of Public Safety and the BID  to point out the availability of Heineken's free taxicab service to those persons having a little too much to drink.

Mayor Delfino said he thanked Heineken so much for offering this service which will be publicized in 30 restaurants and pubs in the White Plains downtown during Saturday evening's open air celebration, fireworks display and ball drop in the downtown, "to keep people safe."

Some of the White Plains businesses participating in the Safe Call program are the James Joyce Pub, Vintage, Kelly's, The Thirsty Turtle, Great American Pub, Michael's Restaurant & Sports Cafe, Jomas, Applebee's, Gryhpons, The Lazy Boy Saloon, Black Bear Saloon, Dooley Mac's, Tighes' Tavern, Finn McCool's, Dunne's Pub, Zanaro's and Acapulco- Mexican Restaurant & Grill.

Carole Sears, President of Mothers Against Drunk Driving graphically recounted the moment when a drunken driver crossed a median on I-95 in the year and crashed headlong into her car, catastrophically injuring her husband who would die of his injurings and herself, who spent six months in a wheelchair and has undergone 9 operations. She recalled how happy her thirty years of marriage had been "and in one second, that driver took all that away." She pleaded with those who are even slightly impaired not to drive, and to call the 1-800-TAXICAB number Saturday night.

Tamara Moore, Director of Corporate Communications for Heineken USA said last year the exact number of free rides provided on New Years Eve in White Plains was not available, but said there were less than 50 free rides offered.

Cars left by the persons getting Free Taxirides would also not be subject to tickets on Sunday, January 1, because parking fees on the street are not enforced on Sunday. However, parking garage rates would still be in effect.

Moore said that Heineken has sponsored a FREE TAXI service during the Presidential Inaugeration in Washington D.C., and that communities looking to work with Heineken on how they could set up such a program should contact her by email at tmoore@heinekenusa.com. FREE TAXICAB rides are not being offered in other cities in the County by Heineken.