Palm Beach County continues to be one of the most active DUI enforcement regions in Florida. From local police departments conducting overnight saturation patrols to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office aggressively targeting impaired drivers, DUI enforcement remains a major focus throughout the county.
At the same time, recent data shows enforcement trends are beginning to shift. While Palm Beach County still records thousands of DUI arrests each year, total arrests have gradually declined since peaking in 2021. That decline mirrors trends seen in several other Florida counties, though Palm Beach remains among the state’s highest DUI enforcement jurisdictions.
Palm Beach County DUI Arrest Trends
According to the latest available data, Palm Beach County recorded 2,531 DUI arrests in 2025. While still extremely high, that number is below the county’s recent peak of 2,935 arrests in 2021.
Palm Beach County DUI Arrests By Year
| Year | Total DUI Arrests |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,531 |
| 2024 | 2,516 |
| 2023 | 2,778 |
| 2022 | 2,897 |
| 2021 | 2,935 |
| 2020 | 2,323 |
Even with the recent decline, Palm Beach County still consistently ranks among Florida’s most aggressive DUI enforcement areas.
Which Agencies Make the Most DUI Arrests in Palm Beach County?
One of the most interesting trends in Palm Beach County DUI enforcement is which agencies are actually making arrests.
2025 Palm Beach County DUI Arrests By Agency
| Agency Type | Arrests |
|---|---|
| Sheriff’s Departments | 1,083 |
| City Police Departments | 1,076 |
| Florida Highway Patrol | 268 |
| Other Agencies | 104 |
The data shows the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office narrowly led all agencies in DUI arrests during 2025 with 1,083 arrests. However, municipal police departments collectively were nearly identical at 1,076 arrests.
That means local police agencies and the sheriff’s office combined accounted for roughly 85% of all DUI arrests in Palm Beach County.
Local Police Departments Drive Enforcement
The “City PD” category includes departments such as:
- West Palm Beach Police Department
- Boca Raton Police Department
- Delray Beach Police Department
- Boynton Beach Police Department
- Palm Beach Gardens Police Department
These agencies routinely conduct:
- DUI saturation patrols
- Holiday enforcement operations
- Overnight traffic enforcement details
- Bar and entertainment district patrols
- Checkpoint-style operations
Areas around Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach, Clematis Street in West Palm Beach, and portions of Boca Raton continue to see elevated DUI enforcement activity due to nightlife traffic and tourism.
PBSO Continues Aggressive Saturation Patrols
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has remained especially active in DUI enforcement. Recent enforcement campaigns show how heavily the agency continues to prioritize impaired driving arrests.
In April 2026, PBSO conducted a DUI saturation patrol that resulted in four DUI arrests during a single overnight operation involving 42 traffic stops. Deputies also issued dozens of citations and warnings during the crackdown.
These high visibility enforcement campaigns are increasingly common throughout Palm Beach County, particularly during weekends, holidays, and major events.
Florida Highway Patrol’s Role
Although the Florida Highway Patrol recorded fewer DUI arrests than local agencies in Palm Beach County, FHP still plays a major role in enforcement on:
- Interstate 95
- Florida’s Turnpike
- Southern Boulevard
- Okeechobee Boulevard
- State Road 7
- Major holiday travel corridors
FHP frequently conducts targeted enforcement initiatives during holidays and special operations periods when traffic volume surges. Also, many DUI arrests by FHP begin with traffic accident investigations where alcohol may have been a factor.
How Palm Beach Compares to Other Florida Counties
Palm Beach County consistently ranks among Florida’s highest DUI arrest counties, though it does not lead the state overall.
2025 DUI Arrest Comparison
| County | DUI Arrests |
|---|---|
| Hillsborough | 4,382 |
| Pinellas | 3,104 |
| Duval | 2,908 |
| Broward | 2,851 |
| Palm Beach | 2,531 |
| Miami-Dade | 2,403 |
| Orange | 1,816 |
| Brevard | 1,735 |
| Polk | 1,453 |
| Volusia | 1,245 |
Palm Beach County actually recorded more DUI arrests than Miami-Dade County in 2025 despite Miami-Dade having a significantly larger population.
That statistic highlights how aggressive Palm Beach DUI enforcement remains compared to other parts of Florida.
Interestingly, Hillsborough County continues to dominate statewide DUI enforcement numbers with more than 4,300 arrests in 2025 alone. Pinellas County also remains extremely active in DUI enforcement, regularly ranking among the highest counties per capita.
High Profile DUI Stories Continue To Draw Attention
Palm Beach County’s DUI enforcement environment has also received significant media attention recently because of several high-profile cases.
One of the biggest stories in Florida involved Tiger Woods, who was arrested following a rollover crash near Jupiter Island earlier this year. According to investigators, Woods allegedly showed signs of impairment after crashing his SUV while speeding in a residential area. Authorities reported that Woods passed a breathalyzer test but refused a urine test, which shifted attention toward possible prescription drug impairment allegations.
The case drew national attention not only because of Woods’ celebrity status, but also because it highlighted how Florida DUI investigations increasingly involve allegations of drug impairment rather than alcohol alone.
The Palm Beach region has also historically generated national attention for DUI-related arrests involving celebrities, athletes, and public figures due to the county’s concentration of nightlife, wealth, and tourism.
DUI Enforcement Is Becoming More Sophisticated
Modern DUI enforcement in Palm Beach County is no longer limited to traditional alcohol investigations.
Law enforcement agencies are increasingly focusing on:
- Drug-related DUI investigations
- Prescription medication impairment
- DUI involving marijuana or THC products
- Enhanced crash reconstruction
- Body camera evidence
- Advanced roadside impairment detection
Officers are also relying more heavily on video evidence from dash cameras, body cameras, and surveillance systems to support arrests.
At the same time, defense attorneys continue challenging:
- Traffic stop legality
- Breath test procedures
- Field sobriety exercise reliability
- Officer observations
- Drug recognition evaluations
- Constitutional issues during investigations
The Future of DUI Enforcement in Palm Beach County
Despite recent declines from peak arrest years, Palm Beach County remains one of Florida’s most aggressive DUI enforcement environments.
The data shows enforcement is being driven primarily by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and local city police departments rather than state agencies. Saturation patrols, proactive traffic enforcement, and high visibility DUI operations remain common throughout the county.
With tourism, nightlife, major sporting events, and rapid population growth continuing across South Florida, Palm Beach County is unlikely to slow DUI enforcement efforts anytime soon.
For drivers, that means even routine traffic stops can quickly escalate into DUI investigations, particularly during nighttime hours and weekends.
Ted Hollander, Esq.
Partner @ The Ticket Clinic and lead attorney in the Criminal & DUI division. I have dedicated my career since 1997 to defending individuals charged with traffic offenses, suspended license violations, and DUI cases in Palm Beach County and throughout Florida. I have also been featured on The Today Show (NBC national), Fox, ABC, CBS, and multiple radio stations and newspapers throughout Florida, where I’ve served as a source on legal issues involving traffic and DUI law. When I'm not in court, I like to analyze trends in traffic enforcement and produce insights like this.
