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Published on Thursday, February 26, 2004
in the Florida Today
COCOA, Fla. - This weekend officially kicks off the spring break season. And knowing that thousands of teens are headed for the state, troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol will be out in force cracking down on aggressive drivers. Those violations include: speeding, tailgating, driving or passing on the shoulder, making unsafe lane changes, or displaying other aggressive driving behavior or habits.
Operation Safe Ride, as the campaign in operation today and Friday has been dubbed, is a statewide effort launched because of a growing concern over aggressive drivers and incidents of road rage throughout Florida.
"We have received numerous letters and emails from citizens and visitors complaining about aggressive drivers in every part of Florida, particularly in urban areas," said Col. Chris Knight at the Florida Highway Patrol's headquarters in Tallahassee..
All available FHP personnel will participate in Operation Safe Ride, including troopers and supervisors normally assigned to non-patrol functions, Knight said. Troopers will focus on major highways -- which in Brevard includes Interstate 95, State Roads 3, 520, 528, 524 and A1A as well as U.S. 1 and U.S. 192 -- using radar, video cameras, motorcycles, and unmarked patrol vehicles.
In addition, seven FHP aircraft will be used during daylight hours to spot aggressive drivers from the air and then direct troopers on the ground to pull them over and initiate appropriate enforcement action, Knight said. It is not clear whether any of those aircraft will monitor Brevard roadways.
"Although no additional fines or driver license points are assessed for aggressive driving, the Patrol has found that traffic court judges, upon noticing that the trooper has checked the aggressive driving box on the citation, tend to impose higher fines or require that defendants take an eight-hour aggressive driving course," Knight said. "Some drivers may be charged with reckless driving could be physically arrested by troopers if their driving behavior warrants such action.
Operation Safe Ride:
FHP Orlando spokeswoman Kim Miller said that in order to be cited during the Safe Ride campaign, a motorist must commit at least two moving violations in the presence of a trooper.