Latest information from Pasco Sheriff Web site on statistics and upcoming DUI roadblocks

Driving Under the Influence Enforcement

Injuries and deaths resulting from people operating vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs are one of the most preventable tragedies in our society today.

In Florida alone, 1,169 people were killed in 2008 due to alcohol-related traffic crashes, which was 42 percent of all accidents.  Nationwide, more than 11,773 people were killed in alcohol-related traffic crashes in 2008, 31 percent of the total traffic fatalities for the year.

This is unacceptable. Although drinking and driving is a societal problem, law enforcement agencies are often the last line of defense when it comes to preventing the worst from happening. We, however, cannot do it alone. It is not possible to catch every driver under the influence who may be on the road at any given moment. The Florida Legislature has toughened DUI laws over the years, which has helped to reduce the number of first-time and repeat offenders. Cultural awareness of the problem has also helped. Organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving have helped to spread the word about lives ended too soon due to someone’s decision to get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol. The Pasco Sheriff’s Office works with students in schools to understand the consequences of making bad decisions, including drinking and driving.

 

 

The enforcement of DUI laws is, of course, imperative and it is a responsibility that our agency takes very seriously. The deputies in the Selective Traffic Enforcement Patrol, or STEP, are dedicated solely to the enforcement of these laws, and unfortunately, they stay very busy. In 2009, we arrested 912 people for driving under the influence in Pasco County.

 

 

I seriously doubt that most adults can claim ignorance about the dangers of drinking and driving. Don’t find out the hard way. At the least, an arrest can cost you up to $8,000 in fines, lawyer fees, towing fees, and the costs associated from lost work hours. At the most, it can cause serious injury or loss of life to you or your loved ones. If you are going to be drinking, DON’T DRIVE. If you might have to drive, DON’T DRINK. If you will be visiting a bar or having some drinks at a restaurant, call a taxi or choose a designated driver who will not drink and will be able to drive everyone home. There is no excuse for driving under the influence. It is our duty to protect everyone on the road. We will be watching.

 

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The Selective Traffic Enforcement Patrol Unit (STEP) uses six deputies supervised by a sergeant to actively enforce traffic laws in Pasco County.  STEP focuses efforts on DUI and aggressive driving along with traffic violations that have been shown to be the leading causation of traffic crashes.  The STEP Unit also provides additional support to other Operations Command Division units during major events and calls for service. 

 

In 2006, with the addition of a Traffic Statistician,  STEP along with the Motor Unit and Patrol Operations increased the use of Strategic Traffic Accident Reduction Tactics (START) which concentrates additional enforcement efforts at or near high crash intersections.  

 

In addition to their focus on traffic and DUI enforcement, STEP is also involved with several national and state traffic safety programs such as “Drunk Driving, Over the Limit, Under Arrest ;” “Click It Or Ticket;” and “Stop Light Red Running.”   Members of the STEP Unit also attend and participate in the Pasco County Community Traffic Safety Team.  

 

 

Enhanced Enforcement Location Calendar
February / March 2013

Dates	District	Enforcement Activity	Enforcement Areas	Remarks
Feb 4 – Feb 17	1	Speed & Aggressive Driving Enforcement/DUI Wolf Packs	Hudson, Port Richey	MOC 2-15-13
Feb 18 – Mar 3	2	Enhanced Traffic Enforcement & DUI Saturation Patrols	Dade City, Zephyrhills
Mar 4 – Mar 17	3	DUI Saturation Patrols/Speed & Aggressive Driving Enforcement	New Port Richey, Holiday	MOC 3-8-13 DUI Checkpoint 3-23-13
Mar 18 – Mar 31	1	Enhanced Traffic Enforcement	Hudson, Port Richey

MOC = DUI Mobile Operations Center

Saturation Patrols/Wolf Packs
A specific area that is frequently traveled by impaired drivers is selected for the Wolf Pack operation. The STEP Units aggressively patrol the area and locate impaired drivers. Wolf Pack operations can be conducted at any time or place with or without prior warning.

Sobriety Checkpoints
Sobriety checkpoints are an effective law enforcement tool involving the stopping of vehicles or a specific sequence of vehicles, at a predetermined fixed location to detect drivers impaired by alcohol and/or other drugs. These operations not only serve as a specific deterrent by arresting impaired drivers who pass through the checkpoints, but more importantly, as a general deterrent to persons who have knowledge of the operation.  Local law enforcement agencies and the Florida Highway Patrol participate in regular DUI Checkpoints 

County-Wide DUI Crashes (Includes results of all vehicles involved in crahes in PSO, NPR, PR, ZHL, and DC jurisdictions)
Year	Alcohol & Drugs	Alcohol Involved	Drugs Involved	Had Been Drinking	Pending Results	Total number of crashes flagged ‘DUI’
2002	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	251
2003	17	279	34	174	71	359
2004	36	324	45	235	35	414
2005	77	406	52	247	71	566
2006	57	312	71	229	52	442
2007	45	305	67	186	68	439
2008	45	269	97	183	76	441
2009	35*	219*	96*	151*	69*	371*
*Statistics reflect crashes during the year 1/1/2009 – 11/30/2009

 

Pasco Sheriff’s Office Jurisdiction DUI Related Crashes (Includes results of all vehicles invovled in crashes within PSO jurisdiction)
Year	Alcohol & Drugs	Alcohol Involved	Drugs Involved	Had Been Drinking	Pending Results	Total number of crashes flagged ‘DUI’
2002	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	206
2003	16	228	25	145	58	294
2004	26	279	40	213	30	354
2005	67	366	47	222	66	505
2006	50	253	66	200	45	372
2007	40	261	56	166	59	378
2008	35	196	77	135	51	330
2009	32*	189*	80*	135*	59*	319*
*Statistics reflect crashes during the year from 1/1/2009 – 11/30/2009

** Note: DUI crash statistics in the above 2 tables are provided by Florida DOT & may be different from those provided by DHSMV. Crashes identified as ‘Had Been Drinking’ or ‘Pending Refults’ may not necessarily have been flagged ‘DUI’.

Countywide Fatality & Injury Totals Resulting from DUI Crashes
Year	Fatalities	Injuries
2003	42	509
2004	36	629
2005	43	908
2006	46	662
2007	43	632
2008	45	585
2009	27*	554*
Source of Fatality and Injury Data: Florida DOT
*Statistics reflect crashes during the year from 1/1/2009 – 11/30/2009

 

DUI Arrests Pasco Sheriff’s Office
Year	Pasco Sheriff’s Office DUI Arrests
2002	814
2003	993
2004	806
2005	1,065

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