Patrols will watch for drunken drivers and people in a hurry.
By LAUREN BAYNE ANDERSON
Published November 25, 2004
Law enforcement agencies will beef up enforcement this Thanksgiving holiday weekend to combat aggressive and drunken driving during the high-volume travel holiday.
More than 37-million Americans will take to the roads this weekend, a 3 percent increase over last year, according to the American Automobile Association. Ten million will travel in the Southeast.
Florida reflects the national trend of an increased number of drivers on the roads despite high gasoline prices. In Florida, more than 2-million drivers will hit the road this weekend, with most traveling 50 miles or more, according to AAA.
The Florida average for a gallon of gas is $2.01, and $1.94 in the Tampa Bay area.
The Florida Highway Patrol and St. Petersburg police will be on the lookout for impaired and aggressive drivers, a problem during holiday weekends.
Last year in Florida, during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, 48 people were killed in traffic accidents. Of those, 21 were not wearing seat belts, and 14 accidents were alcohol-related.
By Wednesday evening, holiday traffic was delayed after an accident involving three semitrailer trucks on Interstate 75 in Sarasota County. Northbound vehicles were backed up for more than 15 miles, and a detour routed traffic off the highway. FHP officers said there were no fatalities and they were not sure what caused the accident.
FHP spokesman Larry Coggins said the agency will deploy all officers, even office personnel, to the roads.
"Every holiday has rise in traffic, a rise in crashes, a rise in DUIs," said Coggins. "Any time anyone celebrates, unfortunately alcohol and driving is mixed."
The FHP will monitor drivers by air and land.
Aircraft will monitor traffic on I-75, I-4, I-275, Polk Parkway, the Suncoast Parkway and the bay area bridges. Pilots will look for aggressive drivers, clock speed and guide ground patrols to vehicles.
In the Tampa Bay area, there will be about 45 extra FHP officers on the road.
Statewide, an additional 350 officers will be on patrol.
An FHP reserve unit will assist with disabled vehicles.
Friday and Saturday, the St. Petersburg Police Department will have an enhanced number of officers patroling for impaired drivers throughout the city.
Tampa police also will be on patrol throughout the weekend.
