TAMPA, FL. (December 23, 2025) – – Over the holiday and into the new year, the Tampa Police Department remains committed to keeping residents and visitors in Tampa safe.
The Tampa Police Department will have extra officers citywide in visible and undercover capacities, as well as in assigned specialty units. Through patrol efforts, officers will be addressing issues of driving under the influence and aggressive driving. However, keeping our roads safe is a shared responsibility. Drivers are encouraged to take the following into account before heading out on the road over the holiday and into the new year:
- Buzzed driving is drunk driving. Whether you’re under the influence of alcohol or narcotics, drivers should seek alternate and safer methods of getting to their destinations by using a ride share service or finding a sober designated driver.
- Aggressive driving leads to unnecessary crashes and injuries. Drivers are encouraged to practice safe driving habits by being polite to others on the roadway and being mindful of their habits.
- Prevent aggressive driving by not tailgating, break-checking, or speeding. If a driver believes they are in danger or another motorist is trying to start an altercation, call 911. Remember to try to provide dispatchers with as much information as possible about the car and driver. SAFE MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT ENGAGE OR FOLLOW AGGRESSIVE DRIVERS.
- Additionally, residents and visitors can submit reports of a delayed aggressive driver via the Tampa Connect Traffic Complaint Request portal . We encourage tipsters to submit as much information as they can provide safely.
Additionally, with the number of events happening in the city, QR Code fraud is not an uncommon crime that happens most frequently in pay-to-park lots. While QR codes are not used within the city of Tampa for their paid lots, there are some private lots that use QR codes. Here are some tips drivers should consider to mitigate the chance of falling victim to this type of crime:
- Look for oddly placed QR codes on signage.
- Before following the URL or hyperlink, check that the URL that pops up is correct and typo-free.
- When in doubt, pay the safe way by manually entering the URL and only downloading parking apps via your phone’s app store.
“We care about your safety, not just over the holidays, but all year round,” said Chief Lee Bercaw. ” Together, we can keep each other safe by celebrating responsibly, driving safely, and reporting suspicious people or items immediately. We thank you for helping us achieve our mission of making Tampa safer, together.”
Safety is a shared responsibility. If you see something, say something, so we can do something:
- Call 911
- Call non-emergency 813-231-6130
- Find the nearest officer
To watch Chief Lee Bercaw news conference, where he covered the following safety efforts: https://youtu.be/WfJUiwN0muk