Be patient on U.S. 1 and don’t drink and drive

This week and continuing through the Labor Day weekend the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office will be participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over national effort to reduce drunk driving.

In partnership with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Florida Highway Patrol, the Sheriff’s Office will be out in force keeping an eye out for drunk or impaired drivers.

In the Keys — where there is one road in and one road out, and few alternatives to U.S. 1 when traveling any distance at all — drunk driving is a particularly dangerous activity.

We will also have all of our Marine Units out in force, patrolling Keys waters through the three-day weekend. We expect large crowds on the water as well as at marinas and boat ramps. Be patient.

A reminder to mariners: Boating drunk can also land you in jail.

Putting people in jail is not our goal, although we will if necessary. The goal is to prevent people from driving or boating while impaired. Please help us with our goal — keep our roadways and waters safe during this holiday period.

If you live here or are visiting the Keys, please make sure you designate a sober driver or call a taxi or a ridesharing service if you plan to drink alcohol.

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