Seven drivers were arrested for DUI in St. Lucie County over the Independence Day weekend as deputies ramped up patrols to keep impaired motorists off the road.
The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that its Traffic and DUI Enforcement Detail ran a high-visibility operation from July 3 through July 5, 2026, placing five deputies on the streets solely to watch for impaired driving and other dangerous violations during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.
Deputies Hand Out Hundreds Of Citations And Warnings
By the end of the three-day push, the numbers told the story of just how active the roads were. Deputies issued 332 traffic citations and warnings in total, made up of 35 citations and 297 warnings. Seven people were arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence, with some facing additional charges tied to the same stops.
Among those taken into custody was Carlos Janier Baez Ortiz, 56, of Fort Pierce, who was arrested on DUI charges along with possession of cocaine and smuggling contraband into a detention facility. Christopher Quinones, 37, of Port St. Lucie, and Chandra McCrary, 53, of Fort Pierce, were each arrested on DUI charges…