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U.S. 19 drivers to run into crackdown
By RYAN DAVIS, Times Staff Writer Tonight law enforcement will conduct the largest-ever traffic and pedestrian safety blitz on U.S. 19, Pasco County's deadliest roadway. Deputies and officers from the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, New Port Richey police and Port Richey police will crack down on speeding, aggressive driving, red light running and drunken driving from the Pinellas County line north to the Hernando County line. At least 15 deputies and officers will participate, sheriff's Sgt. Erik Anthes said Thursday. Some will start at 3 p.m., and the blitz will run into early Saturday morning. About 7 p.m., volunteers from the Pasco County Community Traffic Safety Team -- a group that includes Florida Department of Transportation officials, law enforcement officers and citizens -- will hand out blinking lights to pedestrians. Volunteers will also talk with pedestrians about the safety of wearing light-colored clothing, crossing at crosswalks and carrying a light. "Hopefully we're going to get pedestrians to stop walking in front of speeding cars," said New Port Richey Capt. Darryl Garman, whose agency will have five officers patrolling U.S. 19. Ten pedestrians have been killed this year on U.S. 19. That makes it one of the state's deadliest stretches of road for pedestrians, transportation officials said. One-hundred and three people have been killed this year in Pasco vehicle crashes. That's up 22 from last year's total. About a third of this year's fatalities stem from U.S. 19 accidents, transportation officials said. "People abuse that 45 mph (speed limit) to death on U.S. 19," Garman said. "One sudden little incident leads to a pileup." During a smaller enforcement blitz last year in New Port Richey, about 150 drivers received tickets, Garman said. "We actually ran out of police officers to make traffic stops," Garman said. Anthes said he hopes the blitz becomes a regular event. "If you get to one person who is an everyday pedestrian who is out there and at risk," he said, "we might be saving a life." -- Ryan Davis is the police reporter in Pasco County. He can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6245, or toll-free at 800-333-7505, ext. 6245. His e-mail address is rdavis@sptimes.com.
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From today's Pasco Times Jan Glidewell |
