A weekend of fun and drinking can turn dangerous if you decide to take the wheel while intoxicated. Since 2016, Washington County Sheriff Jared Schneider says his department has seen an increase in operating while intoxicated (OWI) arrests each year over the previous year’s figures. Schneider reminds individuals to drive safe, plan out your evening, and have a plan for someone to drive you home, “Well, I think it’s always a good idea before you go out for the evening if you know you’re going to be drinking to know who your ride home is going to be. Whether that’s somebody that’s with your group that’s decided to be the designated driver for the evening so everybody else can have a good time, but still make it home at the end of the night. Or that person that maybe you have on call has offered you if you ever need a ride to give them a call. I much rather see people use that method than just decide to drive and have something bad happen.” First time OWI offenders could receive imprisonment anywhere from 48 hours up to a year and are subject to pay fines up to $1,250. Drive safe, and drink responsibly.