POSTED Thursday, June 11, 2009 --- 10:30 a.m.

From Dane County Sheriff's Office:

The Wisconsin festival season is in full swing and the Dane County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind everyone who participates to take the safe ride home.

Nearly every area festival offers a safe ride program to drinkers who do not have a designated driver.

Most of the time these safe ride programs are offered at no charge. To further encourage drivers to stay off the road if they’ve been drinking, Dane County Sheriff’s Deputies will focus current OWI enforcement initiatives in areas where festivals are scheduled.

For example, this weekend both Deerfield and Verona will be celebrating Fireman’s Festival and Hometown Days.

On Friday and Saturday nights there will be a total of nine additional deputies patrolling these areas. The additional enforcement is made possible by a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

Community festivals are a great Wisconsin summertime tradition and the Sheriff’s Office encourages everyone to support their local communities and enjoy the festivities.

But when the party’s over, don’t drink and drive.