The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office made 431 traffic stops during Operation Southern Slow Down, a weeklong speeding enforcement campaign that ran across five Southeastern states earlier this month.
The operation took place July 13 through 18. It was the ninth year of the campaign, which the Sheriff’s Office said is conducted in partnership with law enforcement and transportation enforcement agencies in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee. The stated goal is to reduce speed-related crashes through a mix of increased enforcement and public education.
By the numbers
The agency’s Traffic Enforcement Unit and Community Policing deputies handled the increased enforcement in Flagler County. During the six-day period, deputies:
- Made 431 traffic stops
- Issued 115 traffic citations
- Gave 347 warnings
- Made nine traffic-related arrests, two of them for DUI
- Investigated 35 crashes
There was one traffic fatality in Flagler County during the campaign week, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
What the sheriff said
“By working together with law enforcement agencies across the region, we sent the message loud and clear that speeding, aggressive driving, and drunk driving have no place on the road,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Our deputies were busy keeping our roads safe and pulling over motorists when they observed dangerous driving behaviors. Whether they got a ticket or a warning or were one of the unlucky nine whose actions earned them a trip to the Green Roof Inn, I hope every driver who got pulled over during this operation thinks twice about what they did to get pulled over and change their driving behavior in the future.”
“Green Roof Inn” is Staly’s longtime nickname for the county detention facility.
Staly also reminded drivers to follow speed limits, wear a seat belt and make sure everyone in the vehicle is buckled up, use a turn signal when changing lanes, and avoid driving impaired.
“Speeding and aggressive driving put everyone around you at risk, not just yourself,” Staly added. “Remember: Speeding reduces the time you have to react, and aggressive driving behaviors — like cutting someone off or following too closely — force other drivers to react to you. This endangers everyone on the roadway. Slow down, follow the law, and be respectful of other drivers. Otherwise, a traffic ticket may be the least of your problems.”
Year-round enforcement
The Sheriff’s Office said its Traffic Enforcement Unit works on roadway safety throughout the year. The unit runs campaigns such as Operation CRASH, takes part in national efforts including Operation CARE and the #ClickItOrTicket campaign, and increases enforcement during holidays.
Residents can report traffic safety concerns or violations at a specific intersection, street or neighborhood at flaglersheriff.com/traffic-complaint.
The post 431 Stops in Six Days: Flagler Deputies Report Results of Five-State Speeding Crackdown first appeared on Flagler County Buzz.
