Florida Highway Patrol Reports Arrests, Citations From Holiday Crackdown

More than 500 Florida residents will be heading to court this year to face charges of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs following a 2013 holiday crackdown by the Florida Highway Patrol.

Col. David Brierton, director of the Florida Highway Patrol, announced the preliminary enforcement results from the patrol’s involvement in the nationwide "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign. The effort ran from Dec. 12 through Jan. 2. 

To take part in the campaign, the highway patrol beefed up its force by having troopers postpone administrative duties in favor of road patrols and adding reservists and auxiliary troopers to patrol duty.

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During the "Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over" 2013 holiday campaign, troopers:

• Issued 39,202 traffic citations on Florida highways.

• Made 548 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• Cited 13,660 drivers for speeding.

• Cited 2,570 motorists for failure to buckle-up with seatbelts.

• Investigated 10,876 crashes, in which 58 people died.

“Our troopers were out on the roadways to help Florida residents and visitors have a safe and enjoyable holiday period,” said Brierton in a Jan. 10 press release.  “Every year the members of the patrol do their part to identify unsafe drivers and remove them from the roadways, as well as take the appropriate steps to deter unsafe driving behaviors.”

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Florida Highway Safety Patrol Reminders

It is the law to move over when approaching any authorized emergency vehicle or wrecker displaying rotating or flashing lights stopped on the side of a roadway.

To report an aggressive driver, or to request roadside assistance, dial *FHP (*347) on your cell phone to contact the Florida Highway Patrol.

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