Shortcuts often end up becoming the “long way” around. One man suspected on driving under the influence learned that fact the hard way on Monday, Dec. 16, when he tried taking a shortcut to his hotel — by driving across a ski resort.
The man, whose identity has not been released by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), got stuck in the snow at the base of Northstar California Resort. Police responded to the scene shortly after midnight, according to CHP.
“Turns out, this driver’s idea of a ‘hotel shortcut’ was anything but,” CHP wrote in a Facebook post about the incident. “And a few drinks didn’t help their navigation skills.”
The Northstar California Resort escorted CHP officers in a snowcat to assist with the vehicle and arrest the individual on suspicion of driving under the influence.
“I’ve been up here 20 years, man,” CHP Officer Chris Patton told GearJunkie. “And I don’t recall a time when this has happened before. This is kind of unique.”
Driving Drunk at Ski Resorts
Northstar California Resort, previously known as Northstar-at-Tahoe, is located in Truckee, Calif., near the shores of Lake Tahoe. Like most ski resorts, it is currently in one of its busiest times of year as the holidays approach. Between the holiday spirit and those sold at bars and restaurants all over ski resort towns, people can get some bad ideas.
Driving home drunk is a common one, according to CHP. Driving home drunk over a ski resort is less common, but it is an equally bad idea nonetheless, agreed Patton.
“Alcohol impairs judgment and driving ability. Don’t let a poor decision turn into a costly mistake,” wrote CHP in its Facebook post. “Plan a sober ride and help keep the roads — and ski slopes — safe for everyone.”
Resort towns have some of the highest rates of DUIs. According to research done by the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal on Colorado’s resort county DUIs in 2018, the 5th Judicial District (Clear Creek, Lake, Eagle, and Summit counties) leads the state with a ratio of 8.8 DUI arrests per every 1,000 residents. Trailing in second is the 9th Judicial District (Garfield, Pitkin, and Rio Blanco counties), with 7.9 DUI arrests per 1,000 people.
Both the 5th and 9th Judicial Circuits are considered “ski country” in Colorado.
Those numbers are several years old and only pertain to Colorado. But, Patton said that ski country in California is similar in that regard, and especially around the holidays.
“I’d say that it’s a problem in any tourist town,” Patton said.
