Record year for DUI arrests in Ocala in 2011

The Ocala Police Department has more than doubled the amount of DUI arrests in 2011, compared to the previous year. Ocala Police Department Public Information Officer Chas Maier says a DUI Suppression Grant funded by the Florida Department of Transportation has funded these efforts.

Four main officers will be awarded for their efforts in 2011 and continuous efforts throughout 2012.

Although DUI's occur everyday, Maier says typically more DUI arrests do occur during the holiday weekends.

Maier says the main goal is to reduce injury and fatalities for alcohol related crashes. According to Maier, statistically they have proven to have had an impact with four deaths in 2010 and just one case pending in 2011.

Although they will continue to focus on arresting impaired drivers, the Ocala Police Department wants to encourage everyone to not drive under the influence.