During the four-day holiday enforcement period around Independence Day, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) reports it issued 8,541 citations and made 90 arrests for DUI. An increased number of troopers also wrote tickets to more than 3,200 speeding drivers and nearly 1,100 drivers for failing to follow the seat belt laws. Florida now has a primary seat belt law so officers can pull a driver over for no other reason than not wearing a seat belt.
Troopers responded to more than 900 crashes that resulted in 13 fatalities.
FHP reminds motorists it is the law when an emergency vehicle or wrecker has flashing lights on and is stopped on the side of the roadway that a motorist must move over one lane if that lane is clear. Also motorists have a way to call in aggressive drivers or drivers who need roadside assistance. Just call *FHP (*347) to report a reckless driver or someone pulled over on the side of the road.
Although FHP statistics are not yet out for 2010, fatalities on Florida roadways decreased by 14 percent in 2009, dropping to 2,563, the fourth consecutive year traffic fatalities have decreased. Let’s hope when the 2010 statistics are released they reflect a continuing trend.
If you are involved in a car crash in Florida, remember that every claim the insurance adjuster saves goes right back to the profits of the company. It may seem like your accident is a minor fender-bender and not worth the time of hiring a car accident lawyer, but at the very least consider a consultation with an attorney who will advise you whether or not you need to hire legal representation. The Farah & Farah law firm has been representing people involved in car accidents since we opened our doors in Jacksonville in 1979.
Sources: http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2011-07-12/fhp-issue-8600-citations-over-fourth and http://www.flhsmv.gov/news/pdfs/PR071211results.pdf
