CLEARWATER POLICE WILL JOIN SHOPPERS IN FRIDAY TRAFFIC
POLICE TARGET AGGRESSIVE/DRUNKEN DRIVING ON NATION'S BUSIEST SHOPPING DAY

More than a dozen extra Clearwater Police Officers will be patrolling the city's major traffic thoroughfares all day Friday (November 23rd) with the specific mission of making the day after Thanksgiving safer for motorists in central Pinellas County.

The department's Traffic Enforcement and DUI Enforcement teams will conduct a high-profile, strict enforcement campaign from 6 a.m. through 7 p.m., aimed at combating drunken and aggressive driving.

The department's Aggressive Driving Detection & Suppression (ADDS) campaign - which began in July 1999 - is designed to reduce a continuing increase in motorists who drive aggressively, putting both other motorists and pedestrians at risk, according to Clearwater Police Traffic Section Commander Lieutenant Steve Burch.

"Anecdotal evidence suggests 'aggressive driving' has become one of the greatest hazards on the highways today, especially on what is often called the nation's busiest shopping day," Lt. Burch said. He described aggressive driving as that of a motorist who commits multiple hazardous moving violations within a defined time-frame and distance. "Aggressive driving infractions include speeding, following too closely ('tail-gating'), violating the right of way, cutting from lane-to-lane, running a red light or a stop sign, and other such actions," he said.

Lt. Burch said the additional officers will conduct constant patrols throughout the day, and will also strictly enforce the occupant restraint laws (seat belts) as part of the on-going "Buckle Up Florida" enforcement campaign.

"According to AAA (Auto Club South), more than 30 million Americans will travel by car this holiday season, including more than 2 million motorists in Florida," Lt. Burch said. "Statistically, a large number of them will be impaired, and with the pressures associated with travel and the holidays, a significant number of them will be driving dangerously. It's our intent to identify and curb those people to ensure the safety of everyone."

Friday's ADDS program will be the second time in recent weeks the Clearwater Police Department has devoted resources to the statewide "Buckle Up" and aggressive driving campaign; on Saturday, November 17th officers issued 33 speeding citations and 23 seat belt violation citations – among various other motoring infractions – and made 12 arrests, including eight for Driving Under the Influence.

(The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety's aggressive driving quiz is available at http://www.aaafoundation.org/quizzes/index.cfm?button=aggressive ).

For more information or additional specifics about Friday's aggressive driving safety campaign, please contact Lt. Steve Burch at 727-562-4161, Sergeant Robert Wierzba at 727-562-4338 or Sergeant Charles Cronin at 727-562-4162.

/s/
Lieutenant Steve Burch
Commander – Traffic Section