The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office recently announced its plan to conduct a DUI wolf pack operation this labor day weekend in Pinellas County. Multiple law enforcement agencies will be on alert for impaired drivers, including The Florida Highway Patrol, Tarpon Springs Police Department, Clearwater Police Department, Largo Police Department, Bellaire Police Department, Gulf port Police Department, and the St. Petersburg Police Department. According the the PCSO, the operation is part of its ongoing commitment to reduce deaths, injuries, and property damage associated with traffic crashes related to impaired driving. Law enforcement will maintain a "proactive profile" over the holiday weekend on the highly traveled roads of Pinellas County.
If you have been drinking, you should take a cab home or anywhere else you intend to be. Many people feel "fine" to drive after consuming alcohol, when in reality they are far from it, as evidenced by their subsequent breath test (or blood test) results, and field sobriety test performance. If you are stopped on suspicion of DUI this weekend, and the officer notes further signs of impairment, you are virtually assured of a trip to the county jail, a DUI citation, and either the loss of, or restrictions on, your privilege to drive. The fines and costs of a DUI are staggering - far more than than the $50.00 cab ride up the road. Depending on your blood alcohol level and/or number of prior convictions, you may find youself with an ignition interlock device in your car sometime in the not so distant future and you may also be facing jail time.
If you are arrested for DUI, I am here to help. Like they say, however, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure - just don't do it in the first place. It isn't worth the few bucks you'll save by passing on a cab.