Program To Combat Drunk Driving Suspended In Princeton After Funding Exhausted

PRINCETON, NJ — A designated driver program that provided community members with a free safe ride home has been suspended in Princeton due to a lack of funds.

Princeton Police Chief Matthew Solovay spoke to the Council at its Monday night meeting about the department's ongoing efforts to combat impaired driving.

"Unfortunately, the funding for this program has been totally exhausted, and we are forced to suspend it," said Solovay of the "Let Princeton PD Provide Your DD" program.

The police department and the Princeton PBA Local 130 partnered up with Uber and local restaurants and bars to launch the program in 2023.

"Rather than focusing solely on enforcement, we sought to prevent impaired driving altogether," said Solovay of the program.

Since its launch in May 2023, Solovay said they were able to provide more than 900 safe rides home for community members.

As of Monday, Princeton Police have reported 36 DWI incidents in 2025, which Solovay says "has already surpassed last year's total."

"The Princeton Police Department takes impaired driving extremely seriously. In fact, we have been one of the most forward-thinking agencies in New Jersey in our efforts to combat DWI," said Solovay.

The Princeton Traffic Safety Bureau is working with the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety to explore potential funding opportunities.

The police department is also "trying to identify other possible avenues so that we can reinstate and sustain this valuable community program," said Solovay.

Looking ahead, Princeton Police will be out on the roadways in "full force" ahead of the holidays.

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