Crime & Safety

DUI Wolfpack Set For Memorial Day Weekend

The Florida Highway Patrol has announced a DUI Wolfpack for Manatee and Sarasota counties over Memorial Day weekend.

BRADENTON, FL — Motorists with Memorial Day weekend party plans will want to make sure they designate a driver before enjoying one too many at a backyard barbecue. The Florida Highway Patrol has announced plans to hit the road for a DUI Wolfpack Saturday, May 27.

According to the patrol, the operation will focus on Sarasota, Manatee, Highlands, Desoto and Hardee counties. Troopers plan to go into high gear around 9 p.m. Saturday with an expected end time for the operation set at 5 a.m. Sunday, May 28.


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While troopers won’t say exactly where they’ll be, they do plan to focus on “Interstate 75 and major state and county roadways” in the five-county area, an email from the agency said.

“The Florida Highway Patrol organizes such details to proactively remove impaired drivers from the roadways and ultimately enhance the safety of the motoring public,” the agency noted. “Troopers conducting the detail will be mobile while monitoring traffic to maximize their visibility and effectiveness in removing impaired drivers from the roadways.”

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Motorists age 21 and older are considered impaired when they drive with blood alcohol content levels of 0.08 or higher. Motorists under 21 are considered legally impaired with BACs of 0.02 or higher.

Motorists who encounter impaired or aggressive drivers are urged to pull over to a safe spot and report them by calling *FHP from their cellphones.

Drivers who themselves with no safe way home will find AAA’s Tow to Go program available throughout the holiday weekend. Tow to Go provides free rides home for impaired motorists and tows for their vehicles. For more information about that program, check out the following story: Tow To Go Revs Up For Memorial Day Weekend 2017.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol

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