Community Corner
How To Report a Drunken Driver New Year’s Eve
Do your part to keep local roadways safe New Year's Eve. Don't drink and drive. And if you see a drunken or impaired driver on the road? Use these tips for contacting the Florida Highway Patrol.
Troopers and deputies will be out in force looking for impaired drivers New Year's Eve, but they can't do it alone.
Sgt. Steve Gaskins, with the Florida Highway Patrol, said motorists can do their part to keep the roadways safe by calling *FHP on their cell phones to report sightings of impaired motorists.
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To report a drunken or impaired driver:
- Be as descriptive as possible.
- Give a description of the vehicle.
- Report the license tag number.
- Report the direction of travel.
Gaskins said it is a given that New Year's Eve is a "party type holiday."
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"We want to remind people that even during your celebrations you have to make plans ahead of time," he said. "We don’t want to mix alcohol and motor vehicles.”
Toward that end, revelers should make their plans early.
“Plan for a designated driver, party at home or plan to party at places where you don’t have to drive home,” Gaskins said.
Extra patrols are at the ready, he added.
People need to know, Gaskins said, "if they go out there and are drinking and driving, we’ll remove (them) from the highway as necessary.”
Local law enforcement agencies have also promised to step up DUI enforcement through the holiday.
See Also:
Florida DUIs By the Numbers
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