According to a recent article in the Miami New Times, the number of drunk driving arrests in Miami Beach
have been noticeably down in recent years.
In 2011, a reorganization of police patrol zones made it so
the local police were concentrating more of their efforts towards combatting
other types of crimes than nabbing drunk drivers.
The 2011 changes pressed on despite the fact that Miami
Beach continues to have a high number of alcohol-related accidents. Of all of
the Florida cities with more than 75,000 residents, Miami Beach comes in sixth
for DUI crashes, despite the fact that it has a relatively low population.
Things are about the change. The Miami Beach Police
Department secured a $100,000 grant from the Florida Department of
Transportation, money which is going to the department so it can beef up its DUI enforcement
efforts, the Miami New Times
reported.
What You Can Expect in 2016
So, what does this $100,000 grant mean to you? You can
expect to see more DUI
checkpoints and saturation patrols throughout Miami Beach in 2016. Part of
that money will be used to pay for the officers’ work and overtime.
Under the law, all of the saturation patrols and checkpoints
will be publicized by the department through traditional media and social media
outlets. Additionally, the department will be running an awareness campaign
with the infamous slogan that’s used nationwide, “Drive sober or get pulled
over.”
The department’s goal is to reduce drunk driving crashes by
3 percent, and they intend to increase the city’s DUI arrests by 7 percent.
Over the life of the grant, the campaign will include 21 saturation patrols and
three checkpoints.
In 2013, the Miami
Herald reported that after the patrol reorganization, DUI arrests were down
below 500 a year. In 2009, the Miami Beach Police Department made nearly 1,200
DUI arrests.
If you’re facing DUI charges in Miami, contact Jonathan Blecher, P.A. to work with a former prosecutor with over 30 years’ experience!
