Sheriff Amps Up Traffic Patrol, High Visibility Enforcement

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — If you're known to drive with a leadfoot, it'd be a good idea to get in the habit of slowing down before Monday.

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office will start its High Visibility Enforcement operation Sept. 13 in areas throughout the county where traffic crashes are common. Deputies want to make the roadways safer, and they will work to achieve that with this new program until May 2022.

"We need drivers to obey the rules of the road and remain hyper-aware of their surroundings at all times," Sheriff Chad Chronister said. "These operations are meant to raise awareness and focus on educating drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists. Traveling on a roadway should not be a dangerous experience, but failure to follow traffic laws puts everyone at risk. Together we can save lives."

The operation is funded through a contract with the University of North Florida in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation. According to FDOT, Hillsborough County ranks fourth in Florida for serious and fatal traffic crashes.

The following locations will be part of the upcoming HVE operation:

• Hillsborough Avenue, from Sawyer to Beaumont Center Boulevard
• Fletcher Avenue, from Regency Drive to Bruce B Downs Boulevard
• US Highway 41, College Avenue to 15th Avenue NW
• US Highway 301, Whitt Road to River Walk Court
• US Highway 41, from Phillips Lane to Gibsonton Drive
• Brandon Road, from Kings Avenue to Valrico Road
• Nebraska Avenue, from Fletcher Avenue to E 104th Avenue
• US Highway 301, from I-4 to Harney Canal
• Orient Road, from I-4 to Hanna Road
• Hillsborough Avenue, from Standish Bend Drive to Town and Country Boulevard
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, from Mott Drive to Sumner Road
• Dale Mabry Highway, from Idlewild Avenue W to W Waters Avenue
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, from Lakewood Pointe Drive to Parsons Avenue
• Adamo Drive, from I-75 to Providence Road
• Hillsborough Avenue, from Pinellas County Line to Memorial Highway
• Bruce B Downs Boulevard, from University Square Drive to E 131st Avenue
• S 50th Street, from Madison Avenue to 16th Avenue S
• Nebraska Avenue, from 118th Avenue E to E 131st Avenue
• Dale Mabry Highway, from Fletcher Avenue to Ehrlich Road