The men and women of the Sarasota Police Department are working to make sure our community can enjoy a safe start to the New Year.  Officers are encouraging people to avoid driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and refrain from discharging weapons in the air to celebrate the arrival of 2023. 

The annual Pineapple Drop will be held in downtown Sarasota at Lemon Avenue and Main Street.  The Sarasota Police Department asks those planning to celebrate to leave backpacks, coolers, and alcohol at home.

Some individuals celebrate the arrival of the New Year by firing a weapon into the air.  This is known as celebratory gunfire and is dangerous and illegal.  “What goes up, must come down.”  A bullet fired into the air will come down, and the unintended consequences can be tragic.  It is against the law to fire a weapon in the City of Sarasota; Violators can expect to be arrested. 

If part of your holiday celebrations includes consuming alcoholic beverages, plan not driving while impaired.  There are safer and less expensive ways of travel:  Use a designated driver, take a taxi, or take advantage of the free ‘Tow to Go’ service offered through AAA.  For Tow to Go in Sarasota, you can call 1-855-2-TOW-2-GO (1-855-286-9246). The Sarasota Police Department will be out, and there will be no tolerance for the dangerous act of drinking and driving.

Several roads will be closed for the annual Pineapple Drop on December 31, 2022.  Vehicles not removed by the posted time will be towed at the owner’s expense.  For information on towed vehicles, please call Upman’s Towing at 941-365-7084.  The following road closures will be in place for the Pineapple Drop between December 29, 2022, until January 1, 2023:

• 9 a.m. December 29, 2022, until 9 a.m. January 1, 2023:
  • Pineapple Avenue from 1^st Street to the Roundabout
  • 1^st Street from Pineapple Avenue to Central Avenue
  • Central Avenue from 1^st Street to the Roundabout
    
    
• 4 a.m. December 31, 2022, until 9 a.m. January 1, 2023:
  • State Street from Lemon Avenue to the Public Parking Garage
  • Main Street from Orange Avenue to the Roundabout
  • Lemon Avenue from 1^st Street to Pineapple Avenue.

###