DUI Crackdown Announced For Hillsborough County

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Tampa Bay area motorists with pre-holiday party plans this weekend may want to think twice before driving impaired. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol have announced plans to join forces for a DUI enforcement saturation patrol.

The special operation will take place in the eastern part of Hillsborough County specifically, according to the sheriff’s office. It’s set for Saturday, Dec. 17. Times have not been announced.

“Our mission is to make the roadways safer for those traveling on them this holiday weekend by dedicating these extra resources focused on stopping impaired and intoxicated drivers,” an email from the agency said.

Hillsborough County ranked among the top five highest in the state for alcohol-related fatalities and crashes between 2009-12, according to the sheriff’s office. “In an effort to continue to reduce the number of crashes involving impaired drivers, roadways that have a significant number of DUI and DUI-related incidents will be the focus of this saturation.”

DUI enforcement is swinging into high gear throughout the region as the holidays approach. Pinellas County law enforcement agencies are teaming up for a Wolf Pack Friday night. The Florida Highway Patrol is also taking part in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign through New Year’s Day, which targets roadways throughout the state.

“All uniformed FHP personnel, including those normally assigned to administrative duties, will be patrolling interstates and other major state roads,” FHP explained in a media release. The patrol’s auxiliary troopers will also volunteer during the campaign to increase the number of eyes on roads throughout the Sunshine State.

“Impaired driving puts drivers, passengers and pedestrians at risk, and each year it claims the lives of too many people,” said Col. Gene Spaulding, FHP’s director. “Be sure to make the right choice this holiday season and drive sober.”

Between Dec. 16, 2014, and Jan. 1, 2015, 20 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes on Florida roads, according to the highway patrol. A total of 288 alcohol-related crashes were logged during that entire period with 20 percent of them occurring on New Year’s Eve. During the period of Dec. 18, 2015, and Jan. 3, 2016, FHP handled 62 DUI-related incidents.

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