Published on Tuesday, November 28, 2006
in the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

In Thanksgiving weekend crackdown, FHP ticketed thousands

Florida Highway Patrol troopers out in full force for a statewide, 24-hour traffic enforcement campaign wrote close to 2,800 speeding tickets and charged 40 drivers with driving under the influence, the agency announced Monday.

The crackdown last Wednesday was part of "Operation Safe Ride," a program FHP started in February to target aggressive drivers during certain times of the year, such as the Thanksgiving holiday travel rush.

Troopers also issued 312 citations for misdemeanor offenses, 596 notices to drivers who had faulty car equipment and wrote 1,211 warnings, officials said. Amid the speeding tickets and warnings, troopers also cited four drivers for failing to obey the "Move Over" law, which requires drivers to either move one lane over as they approach a law enforcement vehicle that is pulled over on the side of the road or slow down as they pass the vehicle.

More than 400 people were ticketed for not using seat belts, troopers said.