INSIDE the Lakeland Police Department

Lakeland Police Continue to Enforce Traffic Safety in School Zones

A recent Letter to the Editor urged the Lakeland Police Department to increase the fines for red light runners who get caught multiple times in a calendar year. While the concept seems appealing, traffic fines are established by the Legislature and not individual police departments. We simply note what the current fine is for various traffic violations and direct drivers to the Clerk's Office for payment of those fines.

Despite the fact it seems there is never a police officer around when you see someone run a red light, we are continuing our enforcement efforts all over the city and felt this was a good time to update the community on some of those initiatives.

The Traffic Unit worked school zones during the later part of April in an effort to promote a safe environment for students walking or riding bikes to school. In a one week period, officers wrote:

• 39 speeding citations
• 14 moving violations
• 7 citations for passing a stopped school bus
• 8 no seat belt violations
• 1 criminal traffic offense
• 5 non-moving violations

Officers also returned to Lakeland High School last Friday to enforce seat belt violations as part of our year-long commitment to educate high school students on the importance of wearing your seat belt. Citations numbers were very low, an indication that students are complying with the law (and we think that is a good thing). Officers only wrote:

• 9 seat belt violations
• 2 non-moving citations

As always, we encourage everyone to drive safely to ensure you and your loved ones arrive alive.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

MADD Recognizes Lakeland PD DUI Officers

The Florida chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) recently held their annual awards ceremony in Tallahassee to recognize and thank law enforcement officers from across the state for their efforts to arrest drunk drivers.

Four Lakeland Police officers, all members of our DUI Unit, were recognized for each making over 100 DUI arrests in 2007. The officers include Officer Dennis Mosser, Officer Alex Gomez, Officer Sean Finney, and Officer Frank Fitzgerald.

Also receiving special recognition was Officer Sean Finney for making over 1,000 career DUI arrests. Mrs. Flora Price from the Polk County chapter of MADD was on hand to join in the festivities and thank the officers. She is shown below with Officer Finney.

We are gratefully for the dedication of these officers, their constant professionalism in the face of a most difficult assignment, and their unwavering commitment to removing impaired drivers from our roadways. Job well done guys!

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Overly Cautious Drivers

While recuperating at home and reading the newspaper this morning, I read an interesting letter to the editor in today's  issue of The Ledger. The letter described a situation at an intersection earlier this month where drivers were treating a flashing yellow light as if they were required to stop. The author of the letter was accurate in stating that flashing yellow means to approach with caution but keep moving, while a traffic signal that is completely out is to be treated as a four-way stop. We appreciate the author bringing this matter to the public's attention.

The letter also seemed to suggest that LPD should have dispatched a unit to the intersection to reduce the back up from drivers who were stopping rather than driving through as they should. I can tell you that we generally do not dispatch a unit to monitor an intersection where the signal is working and traffic is flowly safely (albeit in a slightly different mode in this situation).

To dispatch a unit to this location is a waste of precious resources in our opinion. We simply do not have enough patrol units (officers or aides can handle this type of call) to send them to this situation. I would much rather keep an officer at an intersection to continue traffic enforcement efforts, things like ticketing red-light runners, as opposed to monitoring a location where traffic is moving safely.

We will dispatch units to locations where the situation warrants police intervention in order to correct unsafe conditions. However, we want everyone to understand that you probably won't see an officer at an intersection where the lights are flashing yellow.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Florida's "Move Over" Law

One of the least understood traffic laws in Florida is the "Move Over" law from 2002. This law requires drivers to "move over" or "slow down" when approaching an authorized emergency vehicle that is stopped on a highway in Florida. The specific statute is 316.126(1)(b).

The website of the Florida Highway Patrol outlines the important provisions of this law along with a video clip to explain the law to drivers.

Effective July 1, 2002, on interstate highways or other highways with two or more lanes traveling in the direction of the emergency vehicle, and except when otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer, drivers approaching a law enforcement or other authorized emergency vehicle parked on a roadway with their emergency lights activated, are required to vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicle, as soon as it is safe to do so.

When approaching a law enforcement or other authorized emergency vehicle parked on a two-lane roadway with their emergency lights activated, and except when otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer, drivers are required to slow to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit when the posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour or greater; or travel at five miles per hour when the posted speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less.

We realize many drivers do not move over or slow down as required out of ignorance to the law rather than due to indifference. While ignorance is not a defense, we believe there is a need to educate the public before engaging in aggressive enforcement efforts. So for that reason our Traffic Unit conducted an educational blitz this past Friday to let drivers know about the law. We went ahead and published notice of this effort via our media blog, which was picked up by at least one local blog, Lakeland Local, and the newspaper.

LPD Traffic Officers started this initiative around 7:30 AM and wrapped up at 3:00 PM along Harden Boulevard between Beacon Road and Lakeside Village Shopping Center.

Interested in the results? Officers made numerous traffic stops for violations, which included:

• 106 Educational warnings for "Move Over" violations (no citations issued)
• 2 Moving violations
• 5 Non-moving violations
• 7 Seatbelt violations
• 2 Criminal traffic violations
• 1 Misdemeanor arrest
• 1 Felony traffic arrest

We want to encourage drivers to move over or slow down when approaching an emergency vehicle stopped along the road. Law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel are killed on our roadways for doing their jobs because drivers are not paying attention.

Please, follow the law and move over or slow down. You may just save a life.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Sign of the Times

Saw this sign while driving to work this morning. I could not have said it better myself.

Let's all drive safely out there this holiday season.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Lakeland Police Issue a Holiday Traffic Safety Reminder - Yield to Pedestrians

We are now in the official holiday shopping season... a time when parking lots and shopping districts like the downtown Lakeland area become very crowded. This means lots of pedestrians will be walking around, sometimes loaded down with packages of gifts making it difficult for them to see all around. Drivers are asked to practice patience during the holiday season - particularly in the crosswalks.

Florida law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in a designated crosswalk, yet you will sometimes see impatient drivers ignore this rule and hurriedly drive through the intersection. Such behavior is subject to a traffic citation, points on your driving record, and a hefty fine.

"Yield to Pedestrians - It's the Law"

As an educational reminder, LPD has posted a traffic safety information board in Munn Park to remind everyone that pedestrians have the right of way. Slow down and save a life this holiday season.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Follow Up Report on LHS Seatbelt Initiative

From our Traffic Unit comes word following Friday's seatbelt enforcement initiative at Lakeland High School. You may recall we previously posted advance notice that we would be at the school Friday morning to enforce the seatbelt laws. Our goal was to remind the students to wear their seatbelts when driving or riding in a car. This is part of our ongoing Click It or Ticket campaign.

Sgt. Tony Lewis tells me the numbers were down in comparison to previous initiatives, which he credits to the advance warnings and notices given before Friday. Despite our educational reminders during morning announcements, some students were still caught not wearing their seatbelts, and they received citations for the violations. Here are the enforcement totals:

• 16 - seatbelt violations
• 6 - other traffic violations
• 1 - drug arrest

In addition to our reminders, some local media were on hand Friday morning to publicize the initiative and get the word out to other students in the Bay area. Thanks to our media partners.

No date has been set for a repeat of this enforcement effort, but we will be back again to remind our students that wearing seatbelts is the law and can save lives.

In the mean time, buckle up Lakeland!

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Lakeland Police Urging Students to Wear Seatbelts

All this week, Lakeland Police officers at Lakeland High School will be reminding students to buckle up and wear their seatbelts when riding in a car. School Resource Officer Stacey Pough will be getting the word out during morning announcements in advance of an enforcement campaign next Friday morning.

Beginning at 6:30 AM this Friday, officers will no longer be issuing educational announcements urging students to wear their seatbelts. Instead, enforcement of the seatbelt law will lead to citations to both drivers and passengers who come to school not wearing their seatbelts.

We want our educational campaign to be a huge success and hope we do not write any citations on Friday. Results will be announced at the end of the week.

What's the easiest way to avoid a ticket? Simply wear your seatbelt every time you get into a car and save a life.

Okay Dreadnaughts -- let's buckle up!

- Asst Chief Bill LePere
    A Dreadnaught alumnus myself

Drive Safely This Holiday Weekend

Our portable traffic message board in front of Grove Park Shopping Center says it all in these photos. Please buckle up and drive safely this holiday weekend. Law enforcement officers around the state are stepping up their efforts through Labor Day to enforce the DUI laws as well as looking for seatbelt violations.

And in case you are wondering, the message board was funded with a grant from the Florida Department of Transportation.

Take a moment to buckle up before you begin your trip. Have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend.

-Asst Chief Bill LePere

Lakeland Police Conduct Operation Lifesaver at Railroad Crossings

After a long, hot day in the Florida sun, Operation Lifesaver's visit to Lakeland was a huge success. Our thanks to the numerous volunteers from FDOT and CSX who came out and help distribute safety literature to drivers at our three targeted locations. Several local restaurants helped with meals to feed the volunteers and keep them hydrated in the August heat and humidity.

   

The dedication of these volunteers and the sheer determination of the officers to get an educational message to the public was inspiring to watch unfold. Numerous media outlets, far to many to link to here, were at some of the locations as early as 5:30 this morning to begin broadcasting from the scene. Their interest in helping spread the message of safety was a tremendous help in reaching Lakeland and the entire Tampa Bay market. I hear we even had a photographer from the Orlando Sentinel visit the location in front of the police station to get some pictures. Our thanks to all of our media partners. Billy Townsend at the TBO Polk County New Blog did get the story posted on his blog this afternoon.

   

One of the locations targeted by Operation Lifesaver was Wabash Avenue and West Olive Street, the spot where four deaths occurred during a horrific collision between car and an Amtrak train earlier this summer. Volunteers distributed safety literature in the shadow of a memorial constructed at the intersection. The photos below are of that memorial.

   

In case you are wondering if all of this is really necessary, I have to tell you it is. While standing at the Wabash location this afternoon taking these photos, the freight train below approached from the east. The signal lights and alarm activated, and the crossing arms began to lower just like they are supposed to do every time a train in coming. This occurred as police vehicles were positioned around the intersection with their emergency lights activated and a bunch of uniformed cops standing beside the roadway.

   

Regrettably, I was too stunned at what I saw next to get a photo of it - two cars began to move across the tracks as the arms lowered with all of these cops standing there. One car made is across and the other continued forward beneath the crossing arm as it descended. The officers quickly hollered to the driver and told him to stop and back up. Simply amazing is all I can say - perhaps one day the message of safety will get into everyone's head.

In the mean time, we are planning our next visit to this location...this time not so much with an educational mission as one of strict enforcement. Please, drive safely and heed the warning of an approaching train. It is not worth the risk to try to beat the train, and these tickets are very expensive if you are so careless as to get one the next time we are there.

-Asst Chief Bill LePere