Published on Wednesday, November 22, 2006
in the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

Florida troopers to be out in force for speeding crackdown during Thanksgiving weekend

The Florida Highway Patrol has announced a crackdown on speeders for the duration of the five-day Thanksgiving weekend.

All FHP troopers assigned to office duties will be sent onto the roads starting on Wednesday to bolster the patrols for Operation Safe Ride, said Col. Chris Knight, FHP director. Those troopers, plus the ones normally assigned to road patrol, should translate into noticeable presence on the roads, he said.

"Based on our experience, we know that a black and tan patrol car tends to bring the best driving behavior out of people that's why every available trooper and supervisor is being assigned to patrol duties during this time," Knight said in a statement.

Knight said the main goal is to deter drivers from speeding in the first place, but noted the troopers handed out more than 9,000 citations last Thanksgiving weekend, including 7,368 for speeding and 88 for DUI.

"Motorists must recognize that speeding, in fact, increases the likelihood of a crash and its severity," Knight said.