Increasing patrol set over New Year's

The Havre Police Department announced it will be increasing patrols in Havre over New Year’s Eve.

Chief of Police Gabe Matosich said the police department will have additional officers for traffic enforcement and seat belt laws. He added that the people of Havre may have already begun to notice an increase in police presence this week.

Matosich said officers will be patrolling at different times and will not be setting up a DUI checkpoint. Rather than concentrating officers in one particular area, he said, officers will be patrolling a wide range of areas.

Havre Ford will also be giving free rides on New Year’s Eve as part of the Sober & Safe program and to encourage people to celebrate the New Year’s safely. Havre Ford has been providing this service over the New Year’s for more than two decades in a partnership with Hill County DUI Task Force, Hi-Line Tavern Association and the Havre Encourages Long Range Prevention Committee.

The goal of the Sober & Safe campaign is to reduce the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities, number of driving under the influence arrests and remove impaired drivers from dangerous situations during the night.

To request a free ride home, people can call 265-1700 on New Year’s Eve. The free shuttle service — managed with donated cellphones from Triangle Communication — will take calls between 5 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. The ride service is limited to Havre.