Published on Friday, June 30, 2006
in the Orlando Sentinel

Freedom drinkers beware!

If you are a Brit and this is your first Independence Day to celebrate with us in America, welcome to our little party! Ahem, we don't need to belabor the historic details of our little freedom-fest, I don't suppose, now do we? Colonies, schmolonies, we're just really happy you are here now! :-)

I'll give you a few more July 4 tips and tidbits before the time comes, but this is need-to-know information NOW. That's because while we are DAYS and DAYS away from the actual celebration of our breakaway from the clutches of the throne, the holiday WEEKEND starts now. And like tinsel at the mall at Christmastime, it means one thing: loads and loads of cops on the road.

Hot off the presses -- actually off the fax, but whatever -- the Florida Highway Patrol is warning that they will be taking people normally doing administrative duties and sticking them in a car and looking for drunk drivers. They are going to be like love bugs on a swamp log out there.

This all starts today and continues through midnight on July 4. Do not drink and drive.

Last year during this soiree, 31 people died on Florida's roads. Forty-two percent of those crashes were alcohol-related. If you see a drunk driver, dial *FHP on your cell phone and one of these troopers will come zooming your way. They won't be far off.

If you wonder about traffic, call 511 on your cell and get up-to-the-minute reports on traffic james, construction, weather and travel times.

And, as the weekend starts, enjoy our freedom with us. Just do it safely.