REMERTON — Officials with the city of Remerton are helping bar and restaurant patrons start the new year off right by providing chauffeur service to those celebrating New Year’s Eve.

City Councilman Scooter Hines initiated the idea last year, in hopes of encouraging transportation safety and community business. Good reports came from the nearly 140 people who utilized the service last year. Hines looks forward to continuing it this holiday and in future years.

“It was very successful last year and well used. We really hope people make use of it this weekend,” said Hines. “We did over 46 trips with two vans and drove about 135 people home. The city had no DUIs that evening.”

As Remerton City Police prepare for an expected influx of patrons New Year’s Eve, Lt. Ivan Davis supports the service and encourages all patrons to remember safety during celebrations.

“The service helped greatly in reducing the number of DUIs last year and we hope it will reduce the number for this year’s festivities as well,” said Davis. “Because of the holiday, we are going to increase our visibility, to make sure that everyone is safe and wearing seat belts. This service gives people an option, and they feel more comfortable in taking advantage of the program, rather than taking a chance at getting stopped.”

Councilman Richard Miller and recently appointed Councilman Cornelius Holsendolph will join Hines as they move from their traditional Council seats into the driver’s seats of multi-passenger vans, provided by event sponsor Johnson Distributing Company.

“We’re providing vans for the project and signs within the establishments, letting people know about the service,” said Lyn Johnson, local vice president of the Anheuser Busch Distribution Co. “We team up with Remerton all throughout the year for various projects and functions. We just want to give back to the community a little bit and let people know that we care about them and alcohol awareness. We want them to know that they have a safe means of transportation.”

While the Council did not vote to lift the city’s open container ordinance during celebrations, which would have allowed for patrons to carry beverages outside of bar establishments, Hines said that restaurant and bar establishments will be allowed to remain open until 3 a.m. New Year’s Day.

Several Remerton bar owners also stand in support of the chauffeur service, as each anticipates entertaining large crowds of people during individual parties.

“Proving transportation was a great service for the city to offer to citizens of the area last year,” said Ford Bowen, owner of Mellow Mushroom. “On average, we typically have about 300 people to come in through the night to celebrate the New Year, and I would hope that a lot of patrons take advantage of the service this year.”

Transportation will be available to patrons living within a reasonable distance of Remerton who may not feel comfortable driving themselves home. City Council officials will begin taking people home from Remerton’s Baytree Place District around 11 p.m. New Year’s Eve, and will continue until the last deport at 3:30 a.m.