 St. Pete Beach Police Department
Press Releases
COMPREHENSIVE ROADSIDE SAFETY CHECKPOINT
OCTOBER 2007
(St. Pete Beach, Fl)- In a community effort, the St. Pete Beach Police Department’s Traffic Enforcement Unit will be conducting a Comprehensive Roadside Safety Checkpoint on October 19, 2007 from 9:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. at the County Beach Park in the 4700 block of Gulf Blvd. St Pete Beach, Florida.
The purpose of this checkpoint is not only to detect and apprehend alcohol and drug impaired drivers, but also to increase the public’s awareness of the DUI problem, to use good judgment and moderation when planning to drive and to encourage persons who consume an alcoholic beverage to seek and choose alternate methods of transportation rather than driving themselves. We will also be looking for traffic and equipment violations.
All news gathering organizations and their staff are welcome to attend this checkpoint. The briefing for this event will be held at 8:30 p.m. on October 19, 2007 at the St Pete Beach Police Department 200 76th Ave. St. Pete Beach, Florida. For further information, contact Chief David Romine, (727) 363-9200.
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National Stop on Red Week
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The St. Pete Beach Police Department will join the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and law enforcement agencies across Florida and the nation to raise awareness of the dangers of running red lights during National Stop on Red Week, August 4 to 11.
“Unfortunately, Florida ranks near the top of the list of states for intersection crashes and a third of those are caused by running red lights,” said Randall Smith, Traffic Safety Administrator for FDOT. “There are all kinds of excuses, such as ‘the light was still yellow’ or ‘I couldn’t stop the car in time.’ But there is no excuse for running a red light.”
Research indicates that nearly all of us are afraid of being hit by a motorist running a red light and yet half of us admit we’ve run one ourselves. According to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, in 2005, the last year for which statistics are available, there were 96 fatalities and 6300 injuries in Florida as a result of people running red lights.
The St. Pete Beach Police Department joins the Florida Department of Transportation to remind motorists of several important rules to remember when approaching an intersection:
- Slow down and prepare to stop when a light turns yellow.
- Yield to pedestrians. They have the right of way regardless of whether the intersection is marked or unmarked.
- Proceed through intersections with caution even after the light turns green. Remember to drive defensively.
- Come to a complete stop before turning right on red. It’s the law.
- Yield to vehicles making a u-turn when turning right on red.
“It doesn’t matter where you live,” said Smith. “You could be in danger of being hit by someone running a red light. In urban areas, you’re more likely to be injured in a crash involving a red light runner than any other type of crash.”
In rural areas, red light running is often deadly.
“Rural crashes often happen at higher speeds and are more likely to be fatal,” Smith added.
“Drivers might think that running a red light will get them to their destination quicker. But wouldn’t it be better to just be late than to put someone’s life in danger, including your own?”
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 11, 2007
“Beach Businesses United with Signs of Safety”
(St. Pete Beach, Fl)- St. Pete Beach businesses have banded together for a second year to tout the importance of safety. Nearly 100% of hotels and business along Gulf Boulevard are showing their support for the current CLICK IT OR TICKET campaign by posting the message on their marquees. Join us on Monday, May 14 at 11am at Jim’s Harley Davidson (Gulf Blvd & 66th Ave) for FREE DONUTS to celebrate the great cooperation.
*FOR THE PRESS: On May 14 at 11am we will have on hand Traffic Officer Scott Vaughn who spearheaded the efforts. Several businesses have also agreed to participate in the media effort to remind everyone that seat belts save lives.
St. Pete Beach Police Traffic Enforcement Officers went to each business requesting their support for the May 21-June 6 campaign. Thanks to our officers’ efforts, nearly 100% of businesses with marquees along Gulf Boulevard are now proudly pushing for safety through their signs.
Some of the Participating Gulf Blvd Businesses:
Chamber of Commerce Larry’s Ice Cream
McDonald’s Gulf to Bay Bait
Wings Coldwell Banker Reality
ABC Baird Reality
Twisty Treat The Reef Restaurant
Jim’s Harley Davidson St. Pete Beach Veterinary Clinic
Bay Palm Motel Dolphin Resort
Best Western Motel Bon Air Motel
Dolphin Resort Plaza Beach Motel
Siesta Beach Resort
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 30, 2007
Camelot by the Sea
On December 4th, 2006 our police department received information that the timeshare property known as Camelot by the Sea, located at 1801 Gulf Way in St. Pete Beach had been auctioned by the Pinellas County Tax Appraisers Office, the auction occurred in November of 2006 to a company named Luke Investments located out of West Palm Beach, Florida who bought the property.
Our agency was informed that unpaid property taxes was the cause of the auction. Allegations were made that Camelot by the Sea may have been a victim of Grand Theft and/or Embezzlement and that may be the reason why the taxes were not paid.
As of March 2007 there has been no evidence of Grand Theft and/or Embezzlement. Currently the Camelot by the Sea board of trustee’s has filed a civil suit against the Pinellas County Tax Appraisers office and Luke Investments.
The civil hearing was on February 19th, 2007. In March of 2007 the judge in that case ruled in favor of Camelot by the Sea, however the newly recorded tax deed which is registered in the name of Luke Investments (based on the tax auction) has not been re-recorded at the county office.
Any further questions or concerns should be addressed to Camelot by the Sea board of Trustee’s and/or the Pinellas County Tax Appraisers Office.
The St. Pete Beach police investigation has been inactivated pending additional information.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 1, 2006
Operation “IceScream for Safety”
Dec 6, 2006
(St. Pete Beach, Fl)- St. Pete Beach Police is implementing a new program aimed at rewarding children who display good safety habits by wearing their seatbelt and bicycle helmets. Operation “IceScream for Safety” is a collaborative partnership between the St. Pete Beach Police, Larry’s Ice Cream (6595 Gulf Blvd. St. Pete Beach), Scoops Ice Cream (6870 Gulf Blvd. St. Pete Beach), Gulf Beaches Elementary, and St. John Vianney Catholic School. Students from Gulf Beaches Elementary and St. John Vianney Catholic School will be rewarded with safety citation vouchers good for one free ice cream at either of the two local businesses just for wearing car seatbelts or bicycle helmets while enroute to school.
Operation “IceScream for Safety” will take place in the mornings as the children are arriving at school. Officers will be out in full force issuing these “safety citations” at the following elementary schools.
Wednesday, Dec 6, 2006
7:30am – 8:00am Principal Kristy Swol (727) 360-1113
St. John Vianney Catholic School 500 84th Avenue, St. Pete Beach, Fl
8:15am – 8:40am Principal Alicia Urbano (727) 893-2630
Gulf Beaches Elementary 8600 Boca Ciega Drive, St. Pete Beach, Fl
St. Pete Beach Police Motor Officer Scott Vaughan, will be available for interviews during this operation. Please contact PIO in advance so we know you will be coming.
The following is an abbreviated explanation of Florida’s seatbelt and bicycle helmet laws:
Florida Statue 316.613(1) (a) – Child Restraint requirements:
Infant through 3 years must be in a SEPARATE carrier, 4-5 year in age in carrier/ seatbelt. Applies to any location in vehicle (DRIVER to be cited – $117.50 fine - moving violation with 3 points on license).
Florida Statue 316.614 – Seatbelt Usage:
(4)(a) Passenger under 18 years not belted or in a device. (Driver to be cited - Fine of $73.50 fine - non-moving violation).
Florida Statue 316.2065 – Bicycle Regulations:
(3)(d) A bicycle rider or passenger who is under 16 years of age must wear a bicycle helmet that is property fitted and is fastened securely upon the passenger’s head by a strap ($43 fine).
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 13, 2006
“Click It or Ticket this Thanksgiving Weekend”
(St. Pete Beach, Fl)- Fifty-five percent of all those killed in traffic crashes across America during the Thanksgiving weekend last year were not wearing their seatbelts. That’s why the St. Pete Beach Police Department will be out in force this upcoming Thanksgiving weekend, cracking down on drivers and passengers not wearing their seatbelts.
“Seatbelts clearly save lives,” said Chief David Romine. “But unfortunately too many folks still need a tough reminder, so we will be out in force over Thanksgiving with a strong ‘Click It or Ticket’ message and enforcement push to help save more lives on our highways.
The heavily-traveled Thanksgiving weekend is one of the most dangerous and deadliest times of the year due to low seatbelt usage. Although a record 82 percent of Americans now wear seatbelts, up from 58 percent in 1994, too many people still do not.
“Too many people, especially young male drivers, teens, pickup truck drivers and passengers, and folks of all ages riding in the back seats of vehicles still take the attitude that a deadly crash will never happen,” said Chief Romine. “But deadly crashes can and do happen every day. So we are going to show zero tolerance for those failing to buckle up. This is not about writing more tickets, it’s about saving more lives.”
“Because law enforcement officials have seen first hand the severe injury and death that comes from low seatbelt use, we are going to be out in force working this issue hard throughout the Thanksgiving weekend,” said Chief Romine. “Unless you want to risk a ticket- or worse, your life, please remember to ‘Click It or Ticket’ this holiday weekend.”
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 22, 2006
Random Crosswalk Stings in Place
(St. Pete Beach, Fl)- St. Pete Beach Police will be cracking down on crosswalk violators. For the past several weeks, St. Pete Beach police have been conducting random crosswalk stings. Violators were stopped and handed an informative card that explains the law. The courtesy card will soon stop and citations will begin to be handed out to violators.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 80,000 pedestrians are injured each year and over 5,000 pedestrians are killed just crossing the street. Drivers should be aware that a pedestrian has the right of way in an uncontrolled crosswalk as long as they are “in” that crosswalk. Drivers who fail to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk face a $117.50 fine. Pedestrians also have responsibilities to use designated crosswalks. Jaywalking can result in a fine of $43.50.
The following is a breakdown and explanation of Florida’s crosswalk statutes:
According to Florida Law 316.130 (7) The driver is required to yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping if need be so as to yield to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon or so close to that portion of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling. (This means you should STOP or yield to the pedestrian in that crosswalk)
316.130 (2) Pedestrians shall be subject to traffic control signals at intersections.(This means the pedestrian should NOT cross unless the crosswalk sign is lit for his safe crossing)
316.130 (10) Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk SHALL yield the right of way to all Vehicles. (This means the pedestrian must wait until the roadway is clear for him or her to cross)
316.130 (15) Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter, every driver shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian. (This means you can’t run them over even if they are wrong!)
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