Highway patrol releases holiday weekend results
Col. John Czernis, director of the Florida Highway Patrol, recently announced the preliminary results from the Patrol’s Thanksgiving holiday period enforcement efforts. During the five-day heightened enforcement period on Nov. 24 – 28, the Patrol suspended administrative duties and solicited the support of reservists and auxiliary troopers in order to protect motorists on Florida’s busy roadways.
Preliminary statewide totals that include other law enforcement agency reports indicate 23 motorists died during the holiday in traffic related crashes, a 36 percent reduction from the 36 deaths for the same time period last year.
The Florida Highway Patrol issued more than 12,000 traffic citations and assisted nearly 4,000 motorists on Florida’s roadways during the holiday weekend. Troopers made 121 arrests for Driving Under the Influence of alcohol or drugs and cited nearly 5,000 drivers for speeding and more than 1,400 for failure to buckle up.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles provides highway safety and security through excellence in service, education and enforcement. The Department is leading the way to a safer Florida through the efficient and professional execution of its core mission: the issuance of driver licenses, vehicle tags and titles and operation of the Florida Highway Patrol. To learn more about DHSMV and the services offered, visit www.flhsmv.gov.