SCARED. NOW SHE’S FACING CHARGES. >> NEW AT 4 THE CAPE CORAL POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY DID A TRAFFIC OPERATION OVER THE PAST WEEK. >> TARGETED TARGETING IMPAIRED DRIVERS. THIS OPERATION HAPPENED ON DECEMBER. 20TH LEADING TO 57 CITATIONS AND ONE DUI ARREST. BOTH COAST NEWS REPORTER NAILA GRAND PIERRE IS LIVE IN CAPE CORAL ALONG DEL PRADO BOULEVARD. NORTH EXPLAINING MORE ABOUT THE OPERATION AND THE STUDY INVOLVED AS WELL. CHRISTMAS RUSH HOUR IS BACK AS DRIVERS PREPARE TO HEAD OUT TO THEIR CHRISTMAS DINNERS AND PARTIES. >> A NEW STUDY FROM THE CAPE CORAL POLICE DEPARTMENT IS HOPING YOU THINK BEFORE YOU DRINK AND GRABBED THE KEYS, THE DEPARTMENT PARTNERED WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO CONDUCT AN IMPAIRED DRIVING OPERATION, SPECIFICALLY TRACKING THESE TYPES OF DRIVERS. THEY RELEASED THE RESULTS THIS WEEK IN JUST ONE NIGHT. THEY MADE OVER 60 TRAFFIC STOPS NEARLY 30 SPEEDING CITATIONS AND A DUI ARREST. THE DEPARTMENT ALSO SAYS CAPE CORAL RANKS 7TH OUT OF 38 IN THE STATE FORT IMPAIRED DRIVING AND TRAFFIC DEATHS AND SERIOUS INJURIES. ACCORDING TO THE HIGHWAY SAFETY MATRIX. >> AND FDOT DATABASE RESIDENTS HERE IN THE CAPE SAY THEY HOPE THIS NEW STUDY BRINGS AWARENESS. >> I DON’T THINK THE DEPARTMENT HAS POWER TO MAKE SMARTER CHOICES. I THINK YOU AND I DO. YOU KNOW, YOU AND I CAN MAKE SMART CHOICES. BUT THE DEPARTMENT ALL THEY CAN DO IS CITE PEOPLE AFTER THEY’VE MADE BAD CHOICES >> HOPEFULLY THAT WILL MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO MAKE BETTER CHOICES. >> THE DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY ARE PARTNERING WITH FDOT TO INCREASE ENFORCEMENT AND
Cape Coral Police Department conducts impaired driving operation
Cape Coral ranks seventh in Florida for impaired driving-related deaths and injuries, prompting local residents to express concerns as the holiday season approaches.
Updated: 6:36 PM EST Dec 25, 2025
New data from the Cape Coral Police Department shows the city ranks seventh out of 38 in impaired driving-related deaths and serious injuries on the Highway Safety Matrix, a data set from the Florida Department of Transportation, as drivers prepare for the Christmas dinner rush.”No one’s telling you not to drink, but take the other options,” said Linda Yake, a Cape Coral resident. “It just isn’t worth totaling your car, killing somebody, or injuring somebody.”The department partnered with FDOT to track impaired drivers and released the results from the night of Dec. 20 from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. During this time, police stopped 61 people, issued 27 speeding citations, and made a DUI arrest.”I make it a point of not driving on holiday nights,” said Tim Scoff, another Cape Coral resident. “It’s a dangerous night to be on the road. There’s a lot of people out. People are driving impaired.”Yake noted the city’s growth, saying, “I think the concentration of Cape Coral has grown so much with people, so it is a little bit of a surprise, but people like to party here.”The department is partnering with FDOT’s Traffic Safety Office to increase enforcement, education, and patrol efforts. “I don’t think the department has power to make smarter choices. I think you and I do. You and I can make smart choices, but the department, all they can do is cite people after they’ve made bad choices. Hopefully that will motivate people to make better choices,” Scoff added. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
New data from the Cape Coral Police Department shows the city ranks seventh out of 38 in impaired driving-related deaths and serious injuries on the Highway Safety Matrix, a data set from the Florida Department of Transportation, as drivers prepare for the Christmas dinner rush.
“No one’s telling you not to drink, but take the other options,” said Linda Yake, a Cape Coral resident. “It just isn’t worth totaling your car, killing somebody, or injuring somebody.”
The department partnered with FDOT to track impaired drivers and released the results from the night of Dec. 20 from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. During this time, police stopped 61 people, issued 27 speeding citations, and made a DUI arrest.
“I make it a point of not driving on holiday nights,” said Tim Scoff, another Cape Coral resident. “It’s a dangerous night to be on the road. There’s a lot of people out. People are driving impaired.”
Yake noted the city’s growth, saying, “I think the concentration of Cape Coral has grown so much with people, so it is a little bit of a surprise, but people like to party here.”
The department is partnering with FDOT’s Traffic Safety Office to increase enforcement, education, and patrol efforts.
“I don’t think the department has power to make smarter choices. I think you and I do. You and I can make smart choices, but the department, all they can do is cite people after they’ve made bad choices. Hopefully that will motivate people to make better choices,” Scoff added.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.