Deputies Assisting Barrier Island Residents With Re-Entry Passes

NORTH REDINGTON BEACH, FL – Hurricane season is fast approaching, and the Pinellas county Sheriff’s Office is reminding residents along the to reapply for their Barrier Island Re-Entry passes.

The Barrier Island Re-Entry program was established in an effort to prevent looting and burglaries after a large-scale mandatory evacuation. The program also helps to keep trespassers from gaining easy access to property.

The re-entry program requires residents of the Pinellas County barrier islands to obtain a free Sheriff’s Office Emergency Access Permit to re-enter an evacuated area. In an effort to help these residents in obtaining their Barrier Island Re-Entry passes, Pinelles County Sheriff’s deputies will be out in the community registering residents at various locations throughout the next two months.

Deputies will set up registration tables at the following locations:

• Saturday, May 20: North Redington Beach City Hall, 190 173rd Ave., 8 a.m. to noon
• Saturday, June 17: St. Pete Beach Recreation Center, 7701 Boca Ciega Drive, 8 a.m. to noon
• Saturday, June 24: Tierra Verde, 1120 Pinellas Bayway S., 8 a.m. to noon

Additional dates and times will be added as needed. In addition to the Sheriff’s Office registration tables, residents can still obtain their Barrier Island Re-Entry passes through their municipal government.

Photo ID and proof of residency are required to obtain permits and registration must be done in person. A total of two permits will be issued per household. Businesses that require additional permits will be handled on a case-by-case basis by the issuing cities.

The sheriff’s department is encouraging rental property and business owners to provide their tenants with the permits for their use in the event of an emergency evacuation.

The municipalities and communities that require the Emergency Access Permit are:

• Belleair Beach
• Belleair Shore
• Clearwater
• Indian Rocks Beach
• Indian Shores
• Madeira Beach
• North Redington Beach
• Redington Beach
• Redington Shores
• St. Pete Beach
• Tierra Verde
• Treasure Island

If an evacuation is ordered for the barrier islands, law enforcement personnel will be posted at the various access points when the order is lifted. The officers will scan the Barrier Island Re-Entry passes to verify the pass before allowing access as well as to record entry and exit.

For more information on Barrier Island Re-Entry Program registration, residents are asked to contact their respective municipality or visit http://www.pcsoweb.com/emergency-access-permit.

Photography provided courtesy of Pinellas County Marketing and Communications Department