HCSO, FWC partner for Memorial Day weekend patrol

With a spike in boating traffic on Tampa Bay waterways for the 2021 Memorial Day weekend, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit partnered with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to increase patrol over the three-day weekend.

From Friday, May 28, through Monday, May 31, patrol efforts by HCSO and FWC lead to a total of:

• 68 vessel stops
• 68 vessel safety inspections
• 66 marine warnings
• 12 marine citations
• 2 vessels towed
• 4 BUI arrests

Areas patrolled ranged from downtown Tampa to Ruskin over to the Gandy Bridge with a focus on the manatee zones from Apollo Beach to Ruskin and heavy boater concentrations near Beer Can Island, Fantasy Island, and the Seddon Channel in downtown Tampa near the Convention Center.

In addition to the waterways, HCSO also focused its efforts on county roadways leading up to the holiday weekend. During "Operation Care," which ran from Monday, May 24, through Friday, May 28, HCSO Motor Unit deputies conducted a total of:

• 1,113 stops
• 366 citations
• 807 warnings
• 3 arrests (2 driving with a suspended license, 1 warrant) 

"With so many citizens venturing out for the first time since the pandemic began, we wanted to ensure that both our roadways and waterways were heavily patrolled and as safe as possible over the Memorial Day weekend," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "We are thankful that through our agency partnerships and increased presence, we were able to ensure that the overwhelming majority of people followed the law and enjoyed the holiday safely."