DUI Enforcement Unit

The Tampa Police Department's DUI Unit consists of 12 Officers, 2 Corporals and a Sergeant.  The unit provides coverage seven days a week operating primarily at night and in the early morning hours.  The DUI officers patrol city-wide paying closer attention to areas frequently traveled by impaired drivers.

Each highly experienced DUI Officer has completed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's course "Detection and Apprehension of Impaired Drivers" and several are certified as "DUI Instructors."  Most of the officers assigned to the DUI Unit have extensive backgrounds investigating traffic fatalities and have seen, first hand, the pain, suffering, and demise caused by impaired drivers.

The DUI Unit's police vehicles are each equipped with an in-car video system.  The DUI Officers are each assigned a portable breath-testing device for the purpose of investigating drivers who are underage and have been drinking.

TPD's DUI Unit participates in various community awareness activities.  A DUI awareness program has been conducted at area high schools since 1997.  Our unit has had a longstanding relationship with the Hillsborough County Chapter of MADD, Tampa Alcohol Coalition, and DUI Counter Attack.

You can reach our DUI Unit at (813) 276-3477 or by e-mail.

Wolfpack Operations

A specific area that is frequently traveled by impaired drivers is selected for the Wolfpack Operation.  The DUI Units aggressively patrol the area and locate impaired drivers.  Wolfpack Operations can be conducted at any time or place without prior warning.

Tampa's Top 10 DUI Arrest Locations

• Channelside District
• Courtney Campbell Causeway
• Dale Mabry Corridor (Kennedy to Hillsborough)
• Hillsborough Avenue Corridor (Dale Mabry to I275)
• Howard (Kennedy to I-275)
• Kennedy Corridor (Dale Mabry to Hillsborough River)
• Nebraska Avenue (Waters to Fowler)
• SOHO
• Tampa Palms
• Ybor City

Tampa has zero tolerance for drunk drivers.

• Zero Warnings
• Zero Excuses
• Zero Driver's Licenses

 

DUI Myths

Myth #1:  A "responsible drinker" won't get arrested for DUI.  The term "responsible drinker" implies that someone can consume a moderate amount of alcohol and still safely drive a car.  However, the staggering number of alcohol-related crash fatalities, injuries, and DUI arrests every year proves that "responsible drinking" is a failed concept.

Myth #2:  0.08 is the "legal limit".  A driver can be arrested and convicted after consuming any amount of alcohol, drugs, or even prescribed medication.  A DUI arrest is based upon impairment - not the consumption of alcohol or drugs.

Myth #3:  A person who refuses to take a breath-alcohol test can't be convicted of a DUI offense.  While it's true that a breath sample provides the police with valuable evidence, a refusal is also very powerful evidence.  In some ways, a refusal could be more compelling evidence than a breath-alcohol test result.

Myth #4:  Coffee, water, cold showers, and certain foods can sober up an intoxicated person.  Time is the only way a person can get sober.  Eliminating alcohol from the body is an extremely slow metabolic process that requires many hours to complete.

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