Helenans who dip a little too deeply into the holiday spirit this month have a new option for getting home safely. AAA Montana and Elite Towing, a company that opened here in September, last weekend launched Operation Tipsy Tow, a service that provides a free ride home -- and a free vehicle tow as well -- to people who have had too much to drink.

AAA spokeswoman Denice Harris said the Tipsy Tow program has been used in other cities, but this is a first for the Queen City.

"We have done this in Cheyenne for about 17 years and it's been very successful down there," she said. "Last year we moved it to Billings and had a successful year there, too."

Harris said that around two in five traffic deaths in Montana involve alcohol, and that number typlically rises during the holidays. In 2005, more than 80 people died in Montana in alcohol-related crashes.

Unlike a typical AAA tow, when a member calls AAA and the association repays the towing company, in Operation Tipsy Tow, calls go straight to the towing company, which bears all the cost associated with the service.

"We feel it's a good program that generates good public relations and gives back to the community, but the contractor has to buy into it as well," Harris said.

Elite manager Randy Miller said the program accomplishes two things. First, it's a good public service to help keep drunk drivers from getting behind the wheel.

"Plus, we're the new guys in town, and it's a way for us to get our name out there a little bit," he said.

The new program joins the long-running ALERT Cab program that allows people to get free taxi rides home from the bar. That program, begun in 1989, is run by Sandy Mac's Distributing and a coalition of taverns across the area.

Trevor MacDonald of Sandy Mac's said the program has grown dramatically in recent years. He expects the program to provide close to 3,000 rides by the end of 2006.

"You constantly hear 'Don't drink and drive,' and I think it's starting to get through people's heads," MacDonald said.

In addition to the two ride-home programs, St. Peter's Hospital's Safe Kids/Safe Communities Coalition is working with local taverns to provide free soft drinks to designated drivers on a night out.

Operation Tipsy Tow began last Friday and runs through Jan. 1, and is available free within the Helena city limits. To get a ride from Operation Tipsy Tow, contact Elite Towing at 443-6068. The service is confidential.

John Harrington can be reached at 447-4080 or john.harrington@helenair.com.