Police write more than 2,000 citations during ‘Staying Alive’ campaign

Published June 30th, 2008

By Dale M. King
CITY EDITOR

Authorities involved in the enforcement component of the Dori Slosberg Foundation’s “Staying Alive on 95” campaign held June 19-21 wrote 2,360 citations to motorists, report Foundation officials.

Officers conducted saturation patrols on I-95 across the state, said Tara Kirschner, executive director of the foundation.

The enforcement effort extended from Miami Dade County through Jacksonville, she said, noting that many different laws were broken – with speeding being the main one.

She said citations were issued for the following: driving while under the influence, 24; safety belt law violations, 236; child restraint citations, 22; stolen vehicles recovered, 1; fugitives apprehended; 9; reckless driving arrests, 15; speeding citation, 1,879; felony arrests, 18; suspended or revoked licenses, 67; uninsured motorists, 87 and under 21 violations, 2.

Former State Rep. Irv Slosberg, CEO of the Dori Slosberg Foundation, commented on the citations written: “A total of 1,879 speeders - that is a lot of speeders. Slow down, save gas, save lives, everyone wins."

Officer Earl Bakke from the Lake Worth Police Department cited a driver at 105 miles per hour who was racing a motorcycle on I-95.

"I was once again amazed by the statistics,” said an officer with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. “We had two officers write speeding citations for 105 mph, arrested one person driving a stolen car and one of our officers arrested someone for driving under the influence while he was on his way home. Now, that’s dedication."

“We are going to be continuing this enforcement wave on a regular basis,” said Kirschner. “With results like these, we need crackdowns on traffic violators on a consistent basis.”

She noted that there were no fatalities on I-95 during the “Staying Alive on 95” campaign.