Tampa police crack down on drunk driving

TAMPA - Tampa police say 60 percent of the city's DUI crashes happen in three popular areas: Hyde Park, New Tampa, and what’s known as the Dale Mabry Corridor.

It didn't take long for Officer Tony Portman to come across a crash with a suspected drunk driver. The man admitted he’d been drinking and mixing it with prescription drugs.

“Basically when you mix prescription medication with alcohol, it heightens the effect of the drugs,” said Portman.

After failing a field sobriety test, the man was arrested and taken to jail.

“Surprised he was drinking out here that early, but he told me it’s been a hard day, so he’s been out roaming around," Portman said. "It just got worse for him.”

That was the first DUI arrest of the night, kicking off a new DUI enforcement program called DUI Challenge.

“The challenge is to make a number of DUI arrests and hopefully reduce DUI-related crashes,” explained Cpl. Amanda Wilson.

The agency with the most DUI arrests is recognized by the state.

Usually on Fridays, happy hour kicks off early in Tampa and police were looking for those who toasted the weekend and then, sadly, got behind the wheel.

Linda Unfried lost her sister to a drunk driver more than 20 years ago, but the pain is just as fresh.

“It’s like a ripple affect. It’s like throwing a rock in the water and it ripples," said Unfried. "That's how it is with families cause it continues to go on, it affects so many people in the family.”

The Florida Department of Transportation is encouraging law enforcement agencies from all over to participate in the DUI challenge.

Recently, the Hillsborough Sheriff’s DUI squad was recognized for their vigorous enforcement. Tampa police want to make sure that reputation continues.