Over the course of the last seven years, Robert Baldwin has served as city manager of Dania Beach, Florida. During his tenure as assistant city manager of Fort Lauderdale, Robert Baldwin participated in citywide efforts to reduce the number of drunk drivers on local roads.

1. FORT LAUDERDALE’S
EFFORTS TO CURB
DRUNK DRIVING
By Robert Baldwin, City Manager

2. Introduction
 Over the course of the last seven years, Robert
Baldwin has served as city manager of Dania Beach,
Florida. During his tenure as assistant city manager of
Fort Lauderdale, Robert Baldwin participated in
citywide efforts to reduce the number of drunk drivers
on local roads.
During the 1980s, several dignitaries and local
business owners spearheaded efforts to provide safer
transportation and drink alternatives to curb drunk
driving in Broward County. The 30 members of the
Florida Entertainment and Dining Association served
as sponsors for the initiative and even decided to pay
for a county-wide “tipsy taxi” service for those too
intoxicated to drive home safely.

3. Curb Drunk Driving
 During the program, the business owners planned to use a
voucher system that billed them for each cab ride that their
patrons took each month. In addition to this initiative, the
association supported a program to provide free drinks or
food to the designated driver in each group of patrons dining
at bars and restaurants.
Outside of the association, a number of community members
also took part in this endeavor. To address the concerns of
moving intoxicated residents’ cars to their homes at the end
of the night, Robert Baldwin introduced the idea of a reduced-
rate car-towing service. As such, Sunny’s Towing and
Recovery began offering $18 towing services throughout the
entire day. The county itself also supported this initiative by
offering educational seminars on the risks of drinking and
driving.