SARASOTA- In an effort to save lives and create safer streets, the Sarasota Police Department is cracking down on driving under the influence.
Sarasota Police Department’s traffic officer, Jason Frank says drivers can expect to see a statewide increase and collaboration between law enforcement officers for the DUI enforcement Operation ‘Dry Streets.’
“Our job is to keep people safe,” said Frank. “It’s not about issuing tickets, it’s about education.”
Each year, spring break attracts thousands to Florida, creating an uptick in drivers around the state and on the Suncoast.
“Kids are back from college, students from other schools come to Sarasota,” he said. “It’s a great place and they want to come here and vacation.”
The Sarasota Police Department is teaming up with the Florida Sheriff’s Association, Florida Highway Patrol and Florida Police Chiefs Association encouraging and enforcing people to drive sober or get pulled over.
“If we can educate people to not drive intoxicated, that’s one less fatality, that’s one less serious injury in the city, that we have to investigate,” said Frank. “It’s one less person we have to notify that they’ve lost a loved one.”
Law enforcement agencies aren’t just targeting drivers under the influence, so there will be increased patrols throughout the city and around the state.
“We’ll be looking for intoxicated drivers, distracted drivers, moving violations of any kind that jeopardize our other motorists, our pedestrians, and our bicyclists in the City of Sarasota,” he said. “When it comes to driving under the influence, people choose all kinds of roads. They stay on main roads they do go to those unbeaten paths. So we’ll be out there, all over the place.”
Enforcement operations will begin on March 13 and continue through March 15.
