DUI Wolf Pack Set To Roam Pinellas County

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — Motorists with big pre-holiday party plans over the weekend will want to think twice before getting behind the wheel impaired. Not only is the Florida Highway Patrol actively engaged in its Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, but law enforcement agencies from all over Pinellas County intend to run their own DUI Wolf Pack this weekend.

The Pinellas County Wolf Pack will hit area roads starting at 7 p.m. Friday. The operation is expected to continue through 5 a.m. Saturday. Aside from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Petersburg, Gulfport, Indian Shores, Largo, Pinellas Park, Clearwater, Treasure Island and Tarpon Springs police departments plan to join in. FHP is also taking part in the operation that will target “highly traveled roadways of Pinellas County.”

Friday’s operation is being dedicated to John Sorensen, 38. Sorensen died on Jan. 30 when he was struck by a wrong-way driver in Dunedin. The wrong-way driver, the sheriff’s office said, was impaired at the time of the crash. Sorensen was riding his motorcycle when he was struck.

“The operation is part of the Pinellas County Sheriff's on-going commitment to reduce deaths, injuries, and property damage associated with traffic crashes related to impaired driving,” the sheriff’s office explained in an email to media. “The goal of the Wolf Pack is to educate people and create public awareness about the dangers of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and any chemical or controlled substances.”

The annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign was kicked off Wednesday by FHP. It Is scheduled to run through New Year’s Day.

“All uniformed FHP personnel, including those normally assigned to administrative duties, will be patrolling interstates and other major state roads,” the patrol 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.

Image via Shutterstock