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Published on Friday, February 27, 2004
in the Melbourne Florida Today
The excuses aggressive drivers give officers range from being late for work to having to go to the bathroom.
But Florida Highway Patrol troopers in Brevard County expect to hear even more today as Operation Safe Ride, a two-day crackdown on aggressive driving, continues across the state.
"People tend to think they're not criminals if they speed," said Trooper Kim Miller, a spokeswoman for the FHP. "But in the majority of our fatalities, speed is a contributing factor."
The operation also comes as thousands visit Florida for spring break.
Targeted motorists include those weaving in and out of traffic, tailgating or speeding, said Dwight Carpenter, a trooper based in Cocoa.
"But aggressive driving is not all about speed," said Carpenter, who will be on the road in his marked Chevrolet Camaro patrol car.
"Sometimes, it could be people riding in the left lane causing frustration for other drivers."
In Brevard, the agency's four day-shift troopers worked mostly accidents Thursday but will join another shift today to participate in the operation.
By contrast, Orange County has 11 troopers.
Major highways will be the focus of the operation, including Interstate 95, state roads 520 and 528, and U.S. 192.
In Orange and Osceola, troopers wrote 350 citations Thursday, mostly for speeding, Miller said. Others included seat-belt violations or improper lane changes.
"Picking up kids at a day care or hurrying to get to the airport," Carpenter said, recounting excuses he's heard after pulling over aggressive drivers.
"People are in a hurry to go nowhere."