FHP to join Drive Sober of Get Pulled Over campaign

FHP to join Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign

MANATEE -- The Florida Highway Patrol will crack down on impaired driving by taking part in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign through Jan. 3.

More than 2,000 crashes per day occurred on Florida roads in the days before Christmas last year as people travel for the holidays. From Dec. 16, 2014, to Jan. 1, FHP reports 20 people were killed in Florida from alcohol-related crashes.

Of the 288 alcohol-related crashes over the same time period, 20 percent occurred on New Year's weekend.

FHP will be out in force on the highways to provide assistance to motorists and remove impaired drivers off the road.

Col. Gene Spaulding, director of the Florida Highway Patrol, suggests giving the gift of being a sober, designated driver as you celebrate the holidays."

780 gift-filled stockings distributed by Sarasota police

SARASOTA -- Chief Bernadette DiPino along with Sarasota police officers and volunteers joined the staff Friday from Booker Middle School and the Brothers and Sisters Doing the Right thing to hand out more than 780 stockings filled with candy and treats to students.

Brothers and Sisters Doing the Right Thing is an after-school homework and tutoring program for any student second grade through high school Monday through Thursday at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex in Sarasota.

Candy and stockings were donated by Church of the Palms, First Presbyterian Church, St. Boniface Episcopal, Siesta Key Chapel Presbyterian, St. Armands Key Lutheran and VIP World Travel.

-- Herald staff reports

This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "FHP to join Drive Sober of Get Pulled Over campaign ."