Two sisters created a way for Sacramento State students to go out drinking without having to worry about driving under the influence.

The Sac Town Hopper was founded in March 2012 by Sac State alumna Lisa Allen and her sister Laura Allen.

Lisa Allen said she was always the designated driver when she went out while attending Sac State because she did not know if others would commit themselves to not drinking.

“My sister and I wanted an easier way for students to get to downtown safely,” Lisa Allen said. “That way, everyone would have fun and participate.”

The price for the Sac Town Hopper is $10 and offers free entrance to bars, clubs and discounts on drinks.

“The Sac Town Hopper has been such a great experience and my best college memories have been made here,” said alumna Christina Velasquez. “This is the funnest and not to mention, the safest way to party with friends.”

The hopper picks up students on Fridays and Saturdays at three locations around Sac State. Two stops are on La Riviera Drive and another in front of The Element apartment complex on 4th Avenue. The first pick up time is at 9 p.m and stops at different bars every 15 minutes until 1:45 a.m.

California Highway Patrol Officer Michael Bradley, said the Sac Town Hopper is a great program.

“Students who utilize [the Sac Town Hopper] make a significant impact on how many impaired drivers there are on the road,” Bradley said. “Based on my experience as a CHP officer, many DUI arrests are of college age students between 21 and 25 years old.”

According to the California DUI Lawyers Association, more than 240 DUIs were reported in Sacramento County this year.

Communications major Katie Morataya, said she lost her sorority sister, Rosa Estrada, two years ago to a drinking related car-accident.

Estrada’s boyfriend was driving after having a couple of drinks at a party. Her boyfriend exited the freeway speeding and crashed into a tree. Estrada then flew out of the window and passed away. Her boyfriend was convicted of manslaughter.

“It’s a blessing to have programs like Sac Town Hopper,” Morataya said. “Students are not only risking their lives when they are drinking and driving, but others as well.”

To honor Morataya’s sorority sister, Lambda Sigma Gamma created a drinking and driving awareness week in February.

This year the drinking and driving awareness week took place Feb. 10-14. Guest speakers were invited such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving and CHP officers to tell students about the dangers of drinking and to share stories of those who have been in drinking related car-accidents.

According to the MADD website, in 2012, someone was killed every 51 minutes in a drunk driving car accident.

Sociology major Jafahri Oler said he rides the Sac Town Hopper as often as once a week. He said the hopper has a very safe and friendly environment.

“It is definitely preventing students from receiving DUIs,” Oler said. “I’d rather take the hopper then go downtown with someone I know is going to drink. And that way everyone can [drink] to the max.”

Speech Pathology major Darline Ochoa said the Sac Town Hopper is not only helping wallets it is saving lives.

“$10 is not a lot. If you think about it, that is about how much you pay to enter a club, so it is basically free,” Ochoa said. “You do not want to be the one who says, ‘I killed someone’ or ‘I damaged my record because I decided to drink and drive.’”