Published on Friday, March 3, 2006
in the WPBF News

More Troopers Patrolling Fla. Highways, Officials Say

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Drivers will see more state troopers patrolling their highways for the next few days.

Agency officials said the Florida Highway Patrol has put about 200 extra officers on Florida's roads to catch speeders. They said the emphasis is on saving lives -- not issuing citations.

Maj. Ernesto Duarte said troopers on motorcycles and in unmarked patrol cars will track speeders using radar and video cameras. He said officers will also patrol from the air, spotting speeders from planes and sending grounded troopers their way.

Police also will look for motorists who don't move over for patrol cars, Duarte said.

The intensified patrol is part of an awareness campaign that state officials launched to reduce traffic deaths in Florida, which are up by nearly 8 percent over last year.