Officers with the Sarasota Police Department will be taking part in Operation Southern Slow Down (formerly known as Operation Southern Shield).  The Sarasota Police Department is partnering with law enforcement agencies from throughout Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee.  

Operation Southern Slow Down, which will take place July 18 – 24, 2022, will focus on the busy summertime travel period when injury and fatal crashes increase significantly.  The high visibility enforcement and awareness campaign will work to reduce fatalities and serious injuries by having motorists obey speed limits.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding has been a factor in nearly one-third of all traffic deaths in the United States during the past 20 years.  In 2020, speeding killed 11,258 people, approximately a 17% increase from the previous year’s nationwide traffic fatalities.  

“The most important thing about driving is staying safe behind the wheel,” said Officer Jason Frank, Sarasota Police Department Traffic Unit.  “One of our primary goals in our Traffic Unit is to make sure residents in our community and those citizens who are traveling through get home safely,” said Officer Frank.

In 2021 in the City of Sarasota, Sarasota Police officers issued 334 citations and/or warnings for not wearing seat belts, 4,803 citations and/or warnings for speeding, and 832 citations and/or warnings for driving while license suspended.  There were also 91 arrests for driving under the influence (DUI).

Operation Southern Slow Down, formerly known as Operation Southern Shield, was launched in 2017. 

###