Authorities respond to 35 vehicle accidents in Florida and write 240 citations in St. Johns County during the Memorial Day holiday.
The Florida Department of Transportation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and St. Johns County law enforcement agencies teamed up on Memorial Day weekend for the “Click It or Ticket” Florida campaign, and more than 3,000 drivers learned they meant business.
The primary goal of the campaign was to save lives by getting motorists to buckle up.
During the 2006 Memorial holiday weekend, nearly three dozen Floridians were killed in motor vehicle crashes across our state. This year 35 people were killed on roadways statewide, with only one in St. Johns County. According to Lt. Bill Leeper, spokesman with Troop G of the Florida Highway Patrol, 65 percent of those fatalities involved drivers or passengers who were not wearing seat belts. There were 48 percent of the fatal accidents that involved alcohol.
In the nine-county area of Northeast Florida patrolled by Troop G, the FHP issued 3,221 citations for no safety belt usage from May 22 to June 4. State troopers also issued 23 citations for failure to use child restraints and 1,303 tickets for speeding. They charged 14 people with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
According to Leeper, only one person, a motorcyclist, was killed in St. Johns County during the holiday this year. The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office reported 35 accidents over the holiday weekend.
Col. Art May of the Sheriff’s Office said deputies issued 240 citations.
— MARK PETTUS
