Pinellas Sheriff announces return of DUI checkpoints, Wolf Pack patrols | News

Pinellas County, FL -- Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri has announced the sheriff's office will begin DUI checkpoints and Wolfpack patrols once a month starting in February.

The first DUI checkpoint is scheduled for Friday Feb. 17, from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m., at 9001 US Highway 19 N (in front of Hudson's Furniture) in Pinellas Park.

The DUI checkpoints will be held at various locations throughout the county each month. The Wolf Pack patrols will be held on nights separate from the checkpoints and will target high traffic areas with an eye to identify and stop impaired, aggressive or reckless drivers.

At the sobriety checkpoints, Prisoner Transport, Community Policing, K-9, and Narcotics deputies will be on the lookout for alcohol and drug impaired drivers. Members of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Traffic Crash Investigators Unit and the Explorer Post 900 will also assist with non-enforcement related tasks. Deputies will also be looking for other traffic violations to include driver license, registration, insurance, and equipment violations.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Mobile Command Bus will be used for breath testing and processing of arrested individuals.

This Friday's checkpoint is dedicated to Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Explorer Nick Sznerch and his family.  Nick lost his 13-year-old sister and father to an impaired driver when he was only 7 years old.

"This is another part of our continued effort and commitment at reducing drug and alcohol related crimes which threaten public safety in Pinellas County," Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said in a release. "We have seen an epidemic of overdose-related deaths as many citizens of all social and economic backgrounds have become addicted to prescription drugs. We know these same people are getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle and driving. Through aggressive enforcement we hope to save lives."