DUI Crackdown Underway

December 31, 2011

Law enforcement officers will be out in force as 2011 comes to a close, cracking down on drunk and impaired driving.

The Florida Highway  Patrol has joined thousands of other law enforcement and highway safety agencies across the nation in Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, a nationwide campaign targeting impaired driving through January 2, 2012.

Impaired driving is one of the deadliest crimes, especially during the holiday period. During the 2010 Christmas and New Year’s holiday travel period, approximately 35 percent of the traffic fatalities in Florida were alcohol related.

Motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians who comply with Flroida’s traffic laws and use sound judgment can help make the holiday period safer and less stressful for everyone, according to the FHP.

“Impaired driving continues to be a priority for law enforcement in the state, and the Florida Highway Patrol will be intensifying enforcement during the holidays,” said FHP Director, Col. David Brierton. “Our goal is to create the safest possible driving environment by modifying driver behavior – and helping drivers make better decisions.”

FHP Auxiliary and Reserve troopers are also out during the heightened travel periods.

The FHP offers these tips for a safer holiday:

  • Plan ahead
  • Use a designated driver
  • If you are impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit or call a friend or family member to get you home safely.
  • Call *FHP (*347) to report intoxicated or aggressive drivers, or if your vehicle breaks down and you need assistance. To request immediate emergency services, dial 911.

Pictured above: FHP Trooper Rafael Streeter issues a traffic citation at the corner of Highway 29 and Hecker Road in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

3 Responses to “DUI Crackdown Underway”

  1. Char on January 1st, 2012 2:16 am

    @Sandra
    I always thank the ones doing their jobs. It’s not a matter of people scrutinizing them. This is a small town and you can’t go anywhere without passing the TOM THUMB. You also can’t go to P’cola without passing the one in Cantonment. The people in this town talk and we all know who hangs out where, with who,
    for how long, and what kind of job they do.

    We also don’t sit around and talk about the Cops..
    It comes up when something happens to someone and you ask them if
    they called the Sheriffs office and thats when they say something.

  2. Sandra on December 31st, 2011 6:29 pm

    Char, as much as we like to believe that our deputies are superhuman,even they have to take a restroom break every once in a while and maybe get a cup of coffee without the general public scrutinizing them. Next time you see one of them at the Tom Thumb how about offering to buy that cup of joe for em and maybe shake their hand and thank them for being out there for you.

  3. Char on December 31st, 2011 10:00 am

    Thank you officer Streeter for a great job done. I love the FHP and
    the troopers.

    What I don’t understand from the Sheriffs office is why the regular deputies
    park in the same place in Molino and Cantonment when every resident knows that they are always there? Are they only after non-residents or out of state people, or is it because both the places they sit are close to the Tom Thumbs? Why do our Deputies Hang out in the Tom Thumbs anyway? If we have so
    few for such large areas, and they know people in town are being burglarized
    for thousands of dollars why are they not hiding in the woods and catching
    them? Is that not really their job, or is that why they always set up neighbor-
    hood watches and tell people to do it themselves because their to busy, to
    few, and the area is to large.

    DO THE TOM THUMBS PAY MORE TAXES THAN THE ENTIRE TOWN?

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News