During the holidays our firm always sees an increase in DUI arrests. People attend many celebrations and, unfortunately, tend to drink too much before getting behind the wheel.
This year, HCSO is conducting two DUI checkpoints in late December. The first will be on Saturday, December 27 between 10 PM and 4 AM Sunday morning. The location of that checkpoint is still TBD.
The second will be held on New Years Eve, which is Wednesday, December 31. That checkpoint will be conducted within the city limits of the city of Tampa.
Drivers should ALWAYS use a designated driver; however if you do plan on having one or two drinks and driving, be aware that you may be stopped and checked for signs of impairment. If officers believe you show any number of signs of potential impairment, they may ask you to submit to field sobriety exercises. Those exercises will likely be video taped and used as evidence against you. If you 'fail' those tests, you will be asked to submit to a breath test. Again, those results (or lack thereof) will be used against you in Court.
Please use discretion when driving this holiday season and remember that we are all responsible for keeping the roads safe.