CAMDEN COUNTY, Fla. – During this year’s Christmas travel holiday, which was from Christmas Eve to Sunday night, law enforcement in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia pulled over their fair share of suspected DUI drivers.
According to the Georgia Department of Public Safety, 13 people died on Georgia roads, and 239 people were arrested for driving under the influence. 21 of those arrests were in Camden County. The arrests prompted Sheriff James Chaney to issue a statement that said:
“Despite years of public awareness campaigns and repeated reminders about the dangers of impaired driving, we continue to see individuals make the reckless decision to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. Each DUI arrest represents a preventable risk to innocent lives, families traveling home for the holidays, workers heading to their jobs, and children riding in vehicles with loved ones.
Our deputies remain committed to proactive enforcement, especially during high-traffic holiday weekends, to prevent tragedies before they occur. There are safer alternatives now than ever before; designated drivers, rideshare services, and planning ahead. There is simply no excuse for impaired driving in this day and age.
As we head into the New Year holiday weekend, our message is clear: make the responsible choice. One bad decision can permanently change lives.”
Camden County has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to impaired driving, and that was evident two years ago, when News4JAX did a ride-along with Camden County Deputy Joseph Sheets during his holiday traffic patrol.
“You’re going to jail. I’m towing your car and every other charge I can put on you, I’ll put on you,” said the Camden County deputy when asked about his frustration with people who continue to drive while impaired, especially during the holiday travel season.
In Duval County’s arrest log, there were 19 DUI arrests during the Christmas travel holiday. Clay, Nassau, and Flagler Counties each had one DUI arrest. The one in Clay County involved a crash. The one in Flager involved 37-year-old Brandie Gambrell of Northeast Georgia. She was initially pulled over for driving the wrong direction down U.S. Highway 1 in Bunnell. Not only did she fail a field sobriety test, but deputies said when she blew into a breathalyzer, it revealed she was more than three times the legal limit to operate a motor vehicle.
Law enforcement will often say a DUI arrest is the easiest to avoid by simply not driving while impaired, especially with the number of programs available that offer intoxicated people a free ride home during the Christmas and New Year’s travel holidays.
From now through 6:00 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, across select states, AAA is offering its Tow to Go services.
‘Tow to Go’ provides a free, confidential ride and tow for impaired drivers and their vehicles to a safe location within a 10-mile radius. The service is open to both AAA members and non-members. The program is designed as a last-resort safety net when other options, like a designated driver or rideshare, fall through.
How ‘Tow to Go’ Works:
Available: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, until 6 a.m. Friday, Jan. 2, 2026
Call: (855) 2-TOW-2-GO
Where: Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, North Dakota, Nebraska, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Colorado (Denver), North Carolina (Charlotte), Indiana (Fort Wayne and South Bend)
What: A free tow and ride home within 10 miles for impaired drivers
Who: Available to both AAA members and non-members
Note: Service cannot be scheduled in advance and should only be used as a backup plan
Why It Matters:
Alcohol-impaired driving is involved in nearly one-third of all U.S. traffic deaths
In 2023 alone, over 12,000 lives were lost in alcohol-related crashes – that’s one every 42 minutes
AAA’s “Crashes Hit Different” campaign reminds us that behind every crash statistic is a real person: a parent, a friend, or a neighbor whose life is forever changed. These tragedies are preventable, and programs like Tow to Go are part of the solution
The law office of Farah and Farah is also offering a free service this New Year’s Holiday. It’s called ‘Safe Rides Home Program.’ The program is designed to help keep the community safe from drunk drivers by providing thousands of free Uber and taxi rides home from New Year’s Eve parties.
Anyone interested in the Safe Rides Home Program can click here: https://farahandfarah.com/NYE/
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