DUI Wolf Pack Set To Prowl Sarasota, Manatee Counties

SARASOTA, FL — Folks with big St. Patrick’s Day 2017 party plans may want to think twice before getting behind the wheel. The Florida Highway Patrol has announced its intention to conduct a DUI Wolf Pack Operation this weekend.

According to the patrol, troopers will hit the road around 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 18. The operation is expected to continue until about 5 a.m. Sunday. Troopers will focus on Interstate 75 and major roadways in Sarasota, Manatee, Highlands, Desoto and Hardee counties, an email form 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 email noted. “Troopers conducting the detail will be mobile while monitoring traffic to maximize their visibility and effectiveness in removing impaired drivers from the roadways.”

It is against Florida law for people age 21 and over to drive with a .08 or higher Blood Alcohol Content. People under the age of 21 will find they are in violation of the law with BACs of .02 or higher.

The St. Petersburg Police Department is conducting a similar operation on Friday, March 17.

Motorists who find themselves stuck without another way home can call on AAA’s Tow to Go program for help throughout the St. Patrick’s Day weekend. AAA plans to have its tow trucks running Friday night through Sunday morning. For more information, check out this related story: Tow To Go Revs Up For St. Patrick’s Day 2017.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol