DUI Statistics in Tampa, FL

2016 Tampa Police Department DUI Arrests Summary

The Tampa Police Department gathers statistics to monitor the activities of the DUI enforcement officers. We have obtained these summaries for 2015, 2016, and 2017.

The summary keeps track of the number of people arrested for DUI each year along with the corresponding refusal rate:

  • 1,729 DUI arrests in 2017 with 44.48% refusal rate;
  • 2,087 DUI arrests in 2016 (with the refusal rate not being listed); and
  • 1,568 DUI arrests in 2015 with a 43% refusal rate.

The summary distinguishes between self-initiated stops and investigations that involve the DUI enforcement officer being dispatched.

The 2017 DUI Enforcement Unit combined year to date statistics (including FDOT grant) show a total of 1,729 DUI arrests in all of 2017 (with 54.71% being self-initiated and 45.29% being dispatched).

Only 5 cases involve a .02 violation. Only fifteen (15) DRE evaluations were performed the entire year. 243 of those cases were classified as “DUI Crash.” As far as chemical tests, 44.48% were classified as a refusal, 1.04% as blood, and 4.80% as urine. The rest were breath test cases with more people blowing over .15 than under.

According to the Tampa Police Department DUI Arrests Summary for 2016, the agency made 2,087 DUI arrests. Just over one-half of those arrests were self-initiated. The other 1,008 arrests involved the DUI enforcement officer being dispatched.

The summary also distinguishes between different types of DUI related cases including:

  • Crash (DUI related) at 13.8%;
  • Wrong way driver (DUI arrest) at 5.7%;
  • DUI checkpoint arrests at 0.5%;
  • Superior Response to Fatal / SBI Crash at 0%; or
  • Supervisor DUI Assist at 5.3%.

The summary also distinguishes between different types of DUI tests:

  • Breath above .08% BrAC 49.1%
  • Urine, Blood or Refusal 49.3%
  • .000-.079% 1.6%

It is weird how the chart tries to carve out the DUI cases with a BrAC reading below the legal limit in this manner. Why not include the low BrAC cases in the BAC Range?

If you look at the totals, it appears that if the low BrAC were included in the range, then approximately 3.2% of people who submit to breath testing blow under the legal limit.

Also, the refusal rate is lumped in with the urine and blood test cases.

Out of those DUI arrests in 2016 by the Tampa Police Department with a breath test reading over the legal limit, the BAC Range is broken down as follows:

  • .080-.149 at 21.5%
  • .150-.199 at 17.3%
  • .200-.249 at 7.4%
  • .250-.299 at 2.5%
  • .300 or over at .04%

If you were arrested by an officer with the Tampa Police Department for DUI, then contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at Sammis Law Firm. Our offices are located in downtown Tampa, just a few blocks from the courthouse.

We understand the tactics used by officers with the Tampa Police Department. Call us to discuss the facts of your case, the typical penalties imposed in DUI cases, and the best ways to fight the case for an outright dismissal or reduction to a less serious charge.

Call 813-250-0500 today.

2015 Tampa Police DUI Enforcement Unit Summary

Update: We recently obtained the TPD DUI Enforcement Unit 2017 Combined Year to Date Statistics by Sector (including FDOT Grant).

Tampa Police TPD DUI enforcement unit 2017 combined year statistics

This article was last updated on Friday, June 28, 2019.

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