Courtney Campbell Causeway Crackdown; Police Target Bad Drivers

CLEARWATER, FL -- Following a succession of serious and fatal crashes caused by speeders and wrong-way drivers, the Clearwater Police Department and Florida Highway Patrol spent Wednesday targeting bad drivers on U.S. 19 and the Courtney Campbell Causeway.

Law enforcement focused on reckless drivers, speeders and drivers who failed to heed the state's Move Over Law.

They didn't have to look hard to find violators.

Police and troopers pulled over 80 drivers for speeding, 24 drivers for failing to obey the Move Over Law, five drivers for other moving violations and 26 for non-moving violations.

In all, they issued 64 warnings and made seven arrests.

Police say careless and impaired drivers have become rampant on both U.S. 19 and the Courtney Campbell Causeway.

Recent examples include an incident on Aug. 12 when two drivers on the Courtney Campbell Causeway ignored the Move Over Law. They crashed into police vehicles that were stopped on the side of the road. It caused a five-car pileup and sent three police officers to the hospital.

The Move Over Law requires motorists to switch to another lane when first-responders are stopped on the side of a road.

Police and troopers are hoping a heightened law enforcement presence and the threat of getting a ticket will make these roads safer. They say yesterday's crackdown on careless drivers is one of a several the police and highway patrol are planning throughout the year.

Images via Clearwater Police