State law enforcement agencies are mobilizing to save lives during the holiday season, using special DUI enforcement operations, from Saturday, Dec. 10, through Sunday, Jan. 1, to identify and arrest impaired drivers as part of Florida's You Drink & Drive. You Lose.
Florida law enforcement agencies will be intensifying their efforts to apprehend impaired drivers during the mobilization period by conducting DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols. Law enforcement agencies will join forces during the mobilization to conduct special operations throughout their counties.
The message tied to the theme, "You Drink & Drive. You Lose.," is that "Violators will lose their licenses. They will lose time at work and with their families. They will lose money as a result of fines, court fees, attorney fees, increased insurance premiums, and other costs related to their DUI arrest," according to information about the operation.
Alcohol-related traffic fatalities have been rising in Florida, although 2004 showed a small decrease in the number of people killed in alcohol-related crashes. According to police reports, 1,093 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes during 2004, only three fewer alcohol-related traffic deaths than the previous year.
"Too many people don't understand that it is a crime to mix alcohol, drugs and driving," according to law enforcement officials. "If you find it hard to figure out if you have had too many drinks to drive, don't risk driving. While it may take several drinks for you to become legally impaired, impairment begins with the first drink."
Impaired driving is one of the most frequently committed crimes, randomly killing someone in America every 32 seconds.
About 68,625 people were arrested for impaired driving in Florida last year. However, research indicates that only one arrest is made for every 772 occurrences of DUI in the United States. This means that there were about 53 million instances of impaired people driving on Florida's roads last year.
Impaired driving is not a victimless crime. In Florida during 2004, an average of 48 people were injured and three people killed in alcohol-related crashes every day.
Designated drivers can help make this holiday season a safe and happy one for all Florida residents. People who plan to go to a party where alcohol will be served are urged to select a designated driver ahead of time or make other arrangements - such as a taxi - to get home safely.
A "Designated Driver" is not the "Least Impaired Driver." Remember, impairment begins with the first drink. Don't offer an alcoholic beverage to a designated driver.
Any person who accepts the privilege of operating a motor vehicle within Florida is deemed to have given his or her consent to submit to an approved chemical test or physical test for alcohol or drugs if they are arrested for DUI. Refusing to take the test results in a 12-month administrative license suspension for a first offense. Any driver who refuses to take the test after being suspended for a previous refusal commits a misdemeanor of the first degree and receives an 18-month administrative license suspension.
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