Designated donors needed

For more than a decade, Designated Drivers Inc. has provided free rides to those too inebriated to drive.

Now the nonprofit foundation that funds the service needs a lift.

Without it, Designated Drivers could be headed down the road to bankruptcy early next year, said Billie Smith, the company's president.

"That is a crime," said Smith, who founded the company 12 years ago_.

Although his company has transported patrons who drink too much at bars, restaurants and casinos, those establishments have done nothing in return, he said.

"They (patrons) drink longer, gamble longer. They eat more," he said. "I'm distraught over the lack of participation by bars, restaurants and casinos."

Smith asks bars and restaurants to pitch in $500 a year and casinos to donate $1,000.

The company provides two drivers so they can drive both the intoxicated driver and his or her vehicle home. During most of the year, it costs $55 for a Designated Driver to pick up a customer.

For participating businesses, the service is free during every holiday and on Super Bowl Sunday.

The Cannery is the only casino that has contributed $1,000, Smith said, and about a dozen of the more than 300 bars in town participate.

"The bars just don't see the upside of the program," he said. "I'm at a loss."

Some businesses have taken advantage of the service, he said. For example, one major chain bar in town picked up the tab for 20 of its "golden gamblers" all of last year.

Since Dec. 18, when the service became free for the holiday season, that bar has dialed Designated Drivers 30 times.

"Suddenly, they feel responsible for their customers," Smith said.

About a week ago, Smith finally was able to pay off the $58,000 it cost to run the program in 2008.

He estimated that by the time revelers are finished ringing in the New Year, he will be $25,000 in the hole.

Smith is unsure how he will pay his drivers, who must have special licenses and pay for their own training and insurance.

"Regular drivers are not going to do this for free," he said. "Every bit of a donation goes directly to the program."

Smith estimated that his program provided 300 to 500 rides on New Year's Eve last year. Over 11 days, drivers transported 1,100 residents home.

Outside the holidays, construction workers have been the most frequent users of the program, Smith said.

Crews would get off work in the afternoon, enjoy a few drinks and pay for a ride home. Because the construction business has slowed, fewer workers go out, and those who do don't have the disposable income to pay for a ride.

Smith said he pays most expenses such as office space and insurance out of his own pocket. Asked why he doesn't simply do away with the service, Smith pointed to the need in Las Vegas.

"We know we're going to take 1,000 drunken drivers off the road in the next 10 days," he said. "These are very dangerous times for our city. People are either out celebrating the holidays or drowning their sorrows."

Contact reporter Adrienne Packer at apacker@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904.