How to Report a Drunk Driver

You Just Might Help Save Someone's Life

Keys and a whisky glass

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Drunk drivers kill thousands of innocent people every year.﻿﻿ Reporting them to the police might just save someone's life.

When you report someone who is driving impaired, either by alcohol or drugs, try to provide the law enforcement agency with as much information as possible: the color, make and model of the vehicle and the license plate number.

Don't feel guilty about reporting a drunk driver. If you saw someone pointing a loaded gun at innocent people, you would not hesitate to report it. There is very little difference between that situation and someone driving while impaired; it is potentially just as dangerous.

What If the Drunk Driver You're Thinking About Reporting Is a Friend or Relative?




You may face some fallout for reporting a relative's drunken driving, but not reporting it puts their life and the lives of others in jeopardy. How would you feel if your relative had a wreck and died? You would no doubt regret not having reported them.

How to Report a Drunk Driver

The quickest way to report a drunk driver is by calling 9-1-1. In some jurisdictions, traffic violations, even aggressive or impaired driving, is not considered an emergency. In such cases, you should call the non-emergency number for local law enforcement. You can usually call 4-1-1 to get the correct number to call.

If you wish to report a drunk driver anonymously, many areas have "Crime Stoppers" or similar programs that will allow you to do so.

If you are driving and witness someone driving impaired, you can use your cell phone to report the driver.

Many highway patrol divisions have their numbers posted along the highway, but not all states have quick-dial numbers for law enforcement.

Highway Patrol Quick-Dial Numbers by State


Alabama: Cellphone-only: *HP (star 47)

Alaska: 911

Arizona: 911

Arkansas: 911 or cellphone-only: *55 (star 55)

California: 911

Colorado: 911 or cellphone-only: *CSP (star 277) or *DUI (star 384)

Connecticut: 911 or 800-443-6817

Delaware: 911

Florida: 911 or 800-459-6861 or cellphone-only: *FHP (star 347)

Georgia: 911 or cellphone-only: *GSP (star 477)

Hawaii: 911

Idaho: 911 or 800-233-1212 or cellphone-only: *ISP (star 477)

Illinois: 911 or cellphone-only: *999 (star 999)

Indiana: 911


Kansas: 911 (statewide) or cellphone-only: *HP (star 47) for Salina, KS; *KTA (*482) for Kansas Turnpike and for Wichita, KS

Kentucky: 911 or 800-222-5555

Louisiana: 911 or cellphone-only: *LHP (star 547) for state; *27 (star 27) or 504-893-6250 for Lake Ponchartrain Causeway:

Maine: 911 or cellphone-only: *SP (star 77)

Maryland: 911 or cellphone-only: #SP (pound 77)

Massachusetts: 911

Michigan: 911

Minnesota: 911

Mississippi: Cellphone-only: *HP (star 47)



Nebraska: 911 or 800-525-5555 or cellphone-only: *55 (star 55)

Nevada: 911 or cellphone-only: *NHP (star 647)

New Hampshire: 911 or 800-622-2394 or cellphone-only: *SP (star 77)

New Jersey: 911 or cellphone-only: #77 (pound 77 — to report aggressive driving)

New Mexico: 911 or 505-827-9301

New York: 911

North Carolina: Cellphone-only: *HP (star 47) or 800-662-7956

North Dakota: 911

Ohio: 911 or 800-525-5555 (OHP) or 800-877-7PATROL (800-877-7728765 — to report non-emergency safety concerns) or 800-GRAB-DUI (800-4722-384 — to report erratic driving)

Oklahoma: Cellphone-only *55 (star 55)

Oregon: 911

Pennsylvania: 911 or cellphone-only: *11 (star 11) — on turnpikes

Rhode Island: 911 or 401-444-1069

South Carolina: Cellphone-only: *HP (star 47)

South Dakota: 911


Texas: 911 or 800-525-5555 or cellphone-only: *DPS (star 377)

Utah: 911 or cellphone-only: *11 (star 11)

Vermont: 911 or DWI Hotline: 800-GETADWI (800-4382394) and *DWI (star 394 — cellphone-only)

Virginia: 911 or cellphone-only: #SP (pound 77)

U.S. Virgin Islands: 911

Washington: 911


Wisconsin: 911



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  1. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Drunk driving.

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