Sarasota Police Department Honored with ‘High Visibility Enforcement Agency of the Year’

The Sarasota Police Department Traffic Unit was honored Wednesday morning by the Florida Department of Transportation with the High Visibility Enforcement Agency of the Year award for their commitment to pedestrian and bicycle safety throughout the City of Sarasota from August 2019 through May 2020. 

“I’m so proud of Officer Jason Frank and our Traffic Unit and the officers in our department,” said Chief Bernadette DiPino.  “I’m so proud of their commitment.  They care so much about our community and making sure people are safe.  I’m honored that we have been selected for this award.”

“It’s not just about writing the tickets,” said Officer Jason Frank, Sarasota Police Department Traffic Unit.  “It’s about educating people and making sure everyone who is in the City of Sarasota or driving through the city is safe.  You don’t do yourself any good or your family any good if you don’t make it to where you need to be safely.”

High Visibility Enforcement (HVE) program worked to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety citywide.  Select roadways in the City of Sarasota were selected based on crash data involving both pedestrians, bicyclists, and motor vehicles.  HVE details were funded through a contract with the University of North Florida, in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation’s focused initiative to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety.  The goal of the enforcement effort was to increase awareness of and compliance with traffic laws that protect the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists.  Enforcement efforts focused primarily on education to drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. 

During the HVE program, Sarasota Police officers worked 166 HVE education and enforcement details over 35 weeks resulting in 458 manhours, 1,228 education encounters and 377 enforcement encounters.  The next HVE program will begin later this month.

Header photo from Sarasota Police Department’s Facebook page.