KENT, Wash. -- Kent police sent out an interesting reminder in advance of Super Bowl party season.
If you're hosting a party and someone leaves your house drunk, you can be held liable if they crash.
Kent Police sergeant Jason Bishop sent out a message Wednesday, reminding people that more DUI enforcement patrols would be on the road over Super Bowl weekend. The note included tips for how to safely attend a Super Bowl party at restaurant or bar.
It also included tips for hosting a party. Bishop said party-throwers should make up extra beds in their houses in case guests need to stay the night.
According to RCW 66.44.270, a person can be charged criminally if they allow a minor to consume liquor on their property. Criminal liability may also be attached if the event isn't purely social, such as a work party.
And while criminal charges may not always be filed against a host who allows someone to leave intoxicated, they can certainly be held liable in a civil case, Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist confirmed with Q13 News on Thursday.
Examples of Washington hosts being held criminally liable for DUI-related crashes were not immediately found by Q13 News. In 2011, the husband of a woman killed by a drunk driver filed a civil lawsuit against two bars that served the man.
And don't just expect to hail an Uber right after the game. Rideshare services may charge as much as a 500 percent surcharge following the big game.
Around 100 million people are expected to watch the Super Bowl.