The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is ready for the New Year’s Eve holiday weekend with Operation Ball Drop, a public safety plan and DUI operation in the Tampa Bay area.
As people go out to celebrate the end of 2023 and the beginning of a new year, HCSO wants to remind people to be safe and not drive under the influence. Operation Ball Drop, a DUI enforcement saturation effort, kicked off Friday, December 29th, and goes through January 1, 2024.
The HCSO DUI Unit will be out in full force throughout Hillsborough County, looking for impaired drivers. Deputies will team up with the Tampa Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol to enforce all traffic laws and to protect the community from DUI drivers.
“We are grateful to our law enforcement partners who join us every year in the effort to save lives by getting drunk drivers off our roadways,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. “We plead with everyone, if you’re going to consume alcohol, please do not get behind the wheel of a vehicle.”
Thinking of the night’s end before it even begins is essential. If you plan to indulge over this holiday weekend in the Tampa Bay area, have a plan. Make sure you have a designated driver to take you home. You can also call a cab or use a ride-sharing service. Another option includes using AAA’s Tow-To-Go program. Call (855) 2-TOW-2-GO or (855) 286-9246.
Tampa Police also announced an increase in patrol presence throughout the New Year’s Holiday for Operation Countdown to Safety.
“Have fun, and have a plan. It’s better to spend the night in a hotel or at a friend’s house than in our jail,” said Sheriff Chronister. “More importantly, don’t start the new year by injuring, or worse, killing someone else because you made the poor decision to drive while under the influence.”
Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer spoke about Operation Ball Drop with HCSO’s DUI Unit, TPD, and FHP.
