Move Over, It's The Law

Florida Statute 316.126 requires drivers to move over and away from stopped emergency vehicles. The purpose of the law is to protect law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMS workers while they are on the scene of an accident or other roadside emergency.

Under the law, drivers must:

* Approach cautiously when an emergency vehicle is stopped along the highway with its lights flashing.

* Move away from emergency vehicles when traveling on a multi-lane highway.

* Slow down to 20 mph below the speed limit or to 5 mph when the speed limit is 20 mph or less or if changing lanes safely is not an option.

ZOOM Traffic Hotline

The 530-ZOOM traffic hotline doesn't take a break.

We are passing all of the problem intersections along to the Sheriff’s Office traffic unit so they can add them to their enforcement efforts. The calls about traffic signals, signs or changing the setup of intersections, we forward on to Collier County transportation for their help.

Click here to see this week’s ZOOM spots.

Keep Your Kids Safe

When it comes to vehicles, when do know when your children need to be in a car seat? When do you know when they need to be in a booster seat?

Florida's laws regarding child restraint in vehicles are designed to help keep your children safe.

Click here to learn about Florida's child restraint laws.

Traffic Enforcement Spots

Monday, Sept. 1:

Valewood Drive at Immokalee Road – Red-light running
Airport-Pulling Road at Victoria Park – Speeding
Vineyards and Napa boulevards – Aggressive driving

Tuesday, Tuesday, Sept. 2:

Santa Barbara Boulevard and Golden Gate Parkway – Red-light running
Pine Ridge Road and Naples Boulevard – Aggressive driving
Collier Boulevard at Players Pass – Speeding

Wednesday, Sept. 3:

Immokalee Road at Juliet Drive – Aggressive driving
S.R. 82 and S.R. 29 North – Speeding
Livingston Road and Biscayne Court – Speeding

Thursday, Sept. 4:

Collier Boulevard at Players Pass – Aggressive driving
Hunter Boulevard and Coconado Parkway – Aggressive driving
Golden Gate Parkway and Santa Barbara Boulevard – Red-light running

Friday, Sept. 5:

Coronado Parkway at 55th Street S.W. – Speeding
Livingston Road at Marsala Way – Aggressive driving
Golden Gate Parkway and Livingston Road – Red-light running

Rainy Day Driving

The summer rainy season is here.

Rain is blamed for many traffic accidents each year but most are preventable if drivers know what to do. That’s why CCSO has put together a list of tips that will help you stay safe on the road when it’s raining.

Click here to watch a video about our wet weather driving tips.

Steer Clear Of Aggressive Drivers

Aggressive drivers make roads unsafe for everyone, particularly in places like Southwest Florida where traffic can get heavy.

That’s why motorists should be aware of how they can spot aggressive drivers and know what to do when they encounter them. Click here to see the CCSO’s tip sheet on coping with aggressive drivers.

Drive Safe

CCSO wants you to drive safe.

The Traffic Unit is patrolling to make sure drivers are obeying speed limits.

Watch your speed and give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination.

If you’re going to be drinking, designate a driver, or call a cab.

Click here to watch our public safety announcements and learn more about CCSO Traffic.

Is Your Car's Equipment Safe?

Are your car’s brake lights working properly?

What about turn signals and windshield wipers?

Collier County sheriff’s deputies are cracking down on vehicle equipment violations.

Checkpoints will be conducted throughout the year to raise public awareness about the dangers of driving an unsafe, ill-equipped vehicle.

Traffic Hot Spots

These are the Top Ten complaints called in to the ZOOM hotline for the week of Aug. 19 to Aug. 26:

1. Thomasson Drive and Normandy Lane – Aggressive driving
2. Oil Well Road at Palmetto Ridge High School – Speeding
3. Collier Boulevard and Golden Gate Parkway – Speeding
4. U.S. 41 at Outer Drive – Red-light running
5. Coronado Parkway – Aggressive driving
6. Trail Terrace Drive – Speeding
7. Airport-Pulling Road at Poinciana Elementary – Speeding
8. Santa Barbara Boulevard and Radio Road – Red-light running
9. U.S. 41 East at Thomasson Drive – Red-light running
10. Pine Ridge Road at Pine Ridge Middle School – Red-light running

Don't Toss Butts

Did you know it’s a crime to toss a lit cigarette from a car?

It is.

Offenders could be arrested and charged with a first-degree misdemeanor.

Deputies are on the lookout for motorists who toss cigarettes or any other lit substances onto Collier County roadways.

It is a violation of Florida law to throw, drop, or dispose of a lighted match, cigarette, cigar, ashes, or other flaming or glowing substance onto a roadway, or any substance that could cause a wildfire.

The discarding of lit substances can cause major environmental, social and economic damages.

The loss of habitat, homes and even lives can result from discarding a lit substance onto a roadway.

So keep your butts in your car.

Move Over, It's The Law

Florida Statute 316.126 requires drivers to move over and away from stopped emergency vehicles. The purpose of the law is to protect law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMS workers while they are on the scene of an accident or other roadside emergency.

Under the law, drivers must:

* Approach cautiously when an emergency vehicle is stopped along the highway with its lights flashing.

* Move away from emergency vehicles when traveling on a multi-lane highway.

* Slow down to 20 mph below the speed limit or to 5 mph when the speed limit is 20 mph or less or if changing lanes safely is not an option.

Steer Clear Of Aggressive Drivers

Aggressive drivers make roads unsafe for everyone, particularly in places like Southwest Florida where traffic can get heavy.

That’s why motorists should be aware of how they can spot aggressive drivers and know what to do when they encounter them. Click here to see the CCSO’s tip sheet on coping with aggressive drivers.

Keep Your Kids Safe

When it comes to vehicles, when do know when your children need to be in a car seat? When do you know when they need to be in a booster seat?

Florida's laws regarding child restraint in vehicles are designed to help keep your children safe.

Click here to learn about Florida's child restraint laws.

Traffic Enforcement Spots

Monday, Aug. 25:

Vanderbilt Beach Road and U.S. 41 North – Red-light running
Airport-Pulling Road at Rustic Oakes Circle - Speeding
U.S. 41 North at Immokalee Road – Aggressive driving

Tuesday, Tuesday, Aug. 26:

Santa Barbara Boulevard and Golden Gate Parkway – Red-light running
Golden Gate Boulevard at 21st St. N.W. – Aggressive driving
Wildflower Way – Aggressive driving

Wednesday, Aug. 27:

Airport-Pulling Road and Poinciana Elementary – Speeding
S.R. 82 and S.R. 29 North - Speeding
Livingston Road at Immokalee Road – Red-light running

Thursday, Aug. 28:

Collier Boulevard at Beck Boulevard – Red-light running
Hunter Boulevard and Coronado Parkway – Aggressive driving
Golden Gate Parkway and Santa Barbara Boulevard – Red-light running

Friday, Aug. 29:

25th Street Southwest and White Boulevard – Speeding
Immokalee Road at Logan Boulevard – Red-light running
Golden Gate Parkway and Livingston Road – Red-light running

Plz Don't TWD

CCSO advises drivers to pull over and stop if they need to use a cell phone, whether it's for talking or texting.

If you must talk on your cell phone while driving, use a hands-free device. Text-messaging while driving should always be avoided.

Click here to watch the video.

School's Back In

Today is the first day of classes in Collier County.

Cars and school buses filled with children are back on our roads.

Deputies will be patrolling school zones around the county all week to remind motorists that slow speeds are in effect.

Slow down for the flashing yellow lights on the school bus. Stop for the flashing red lights on the bus.

Traffic Hot Spots

These are the Top Ten traffic hotspots called into the ZOOM hotline between Aug. 12 and Aug. 19.

1. Immokalee and Livingston roads – Red-light running
2. Airport-Pulling Road and Davis Boulevard – Aggressive driving
3. Vanderbilt Beach and Goodlette-Frank roads – Speeding
4. Pine Ridge Road at I-75 – Aggressive driving
5. Collier Boulevard at Rattlesnake-Hammock Road – Red-light running
6. 53rd Street S.W. at St. John Neumann High School – Speeding
7. U.S. 41 at Vanderbilt Beach Road – Red-light running
8. Immokalee Road at Collier Boulevard– Speeding
9. Biscayne Drive – Speeding
10. Sixth Street Southwest - Speeding

Rainy Day Driving

The summer rainy season is here.

Rain is blamed for many traffic accidents each year but most are preventable if drivers know what to do.

That’s why CCSO has put together a list of tips that will help you stay safe on the road when it’s raining.

Click here to watch a video about our wet weather driving tips.

Photo by Natalie Felber/CCSO

Traffic Enforcement Spots

Monday, Aug. 18:

Immokalee and Livingston roads – Red-light running
Airport-Pulling Road at Rustic Oak Circle –Aggressive driving
Orangetree Boulevard - Speeding

Tuesday, Aug. 19:

Radio Road and Donna Street – Red-light running
Immokalee and Airport roads – Red-light running
18th Avenue Northeast at Cypress Palm Middle School – Aggressive driving

Wednesday, Aug. 20:

Lakeland Avenue – Aggressive driving
Santa Barbara Boulevard – Aggressive driving
Pine Ridge Road and U.S. 41 North – Red-light running

Thursday, Aug. 21:

White Boulevard - Speeding
Collier Boulevard at Fiddler’s Creek - Speeding
Rattlesnake Hammock Road and St. Andrews Boulevard – Red-light running

Friday, Aug. 22:

Pine Ridge Road at I-75 Exit – Red-light running
Lake Trafford Road at Lake Trafford Elementary – Aggressive driving
Collier Boulevard at Club Estates - Speeding

Red Says Stop

Red-light running is a national problem that kills and injures thousands of people each year. Red-light running costs the public billions.Red-light cameras are found to reduce violations, prevent crashes and save lives.

Click here to watch a red-light running video from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Highway Loss Data Institute.

Click here to watch a Power Point presentation about red-light cameras.

Rainy Day Driving

The summer rainy season is here.

Rain is blamed for many traffic accidents each year but most are preventable if drivers know what to do.

That’s why CCSO has put together a list of tips to help keep you safe on the road when it’s raining.

Click here to watch a video about our wet weather driving tips.

Traffic Hot Spots

These are the Top 10 traffic complaints called in to the ZOOM hotline from Aug. 5 through Aug. 12:

1. Pine Ridge Road at I-75 - Speeding
2. Collier Boulevard and U.S. 41 East - Red-light running
3. Crown Point Boulevard - Speeding
4. Grand Lely Drive - Speeding
5. Spanish Moss Trail - Speeding
6. King Sable Drive and Radio Road - Speeding
7. Vanderbilt Beach Road and Collier Boulevard - Red-light running
8. 13th Street S.W. and Golden Gate Parkway - Speeding
9. Estey Avenue - Speeding
10. Biscayne Drive - Speeding

Sidewalk Safety

Walking saves gas and improves your health, but pedestrians need to be vigilant in order to avoid becoming a traffic statistic.

We have advice that can keep you safe when you go out for a walk.

Click here to see a video about pedestrian safety.

Don't Toss Butts

Did you know that it’s a crime to toss a lit cigarette from a car?

It is.

Offenders could be arrested and charged with a first-degree misdemeanor.

Deputies are on the lookout for motorists who toss cigarettes or any other lit substances onto Collier County roadways.

It is a violation of Florida law to throw, drop, or dispose of a lighted match, cigarette, cigar, ashes, or other flaming or glowing substance onto a roadway, or any substance that could cause a wildfire.

The discarding of lit substances can cause major environmental, social and economic damages. The loss of habitat, homes and even lives can result from discarding a lit substance onto a roadway.

Traffic Enforcement Spots

Monday, Aug. 11:

Vanderbilt Beach Road and U.S. 41 North – red-light running
Airport-Pulling Road at J&C Boulevard – speeding
Vineyards and Napa boulevards – aggressive driving

Tuesday, Aug. 12:

Santa Barbara Boulevard and Golden Gate Parkway – red-light running
Pine Ridge Road and Naples Boulevard – aggressive driving
Wildflower Way – aggressive driving

Wednesday, Aug. 13:

Airport-Pulling Road and Estey Avenue – Aggressive driving
S.R. 82 and S.R. 29 North – speeding
Livingston Road and Biscayne Court – speeding

Thursday, Aug. 14:

Collier Boulevard and Business Circle South - speeding
Hunter Boulevard and Coronado Parkway – aggressive driving
Golden Gate Parkway and Santa Barbara Boulevard – red-light running

Friday, Aug. 15:

25th Street Southwest and White Boulevard – speeding
U.S. 41 at Immokalee Road – aggressive driving
Golden Gate Parkway and Livingston Road – red-light running

CCSO Marks 08-08-08

WHAT: DUI Enforcement Effort

WHEN: Friday, Aug. 8, 2008

WHERE: Collier County

SYNOPSIS: CCSO deputies are marking a date that only comes along once a century – 08-08-08 – by conducting a special enforcement of the state’s .08 legal blood alcohol limit for driving.

Extra deputies will be on patrol beginning at 8 p.m. to watch for people driving under the influence of alcohol.

People planning to drink alcohol should always appoint a designated driver. Drinking and driving is not only illegal, it’s dangerous. In 2006, the most recent year for which statistics are available, 1,099 people died in alcohol-related accidents on Florida roads, according to statistics from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Steer Clear Of Aggressive Drivers

Aggressive drivers make roads unsafe for everyone, particularly in places like Southwest Florida where traffic can get heavy.

That’s why motorists should be aware of how they can spot aggressive drivers and know what to do when they encounter them.

Click here to see the CCSO’s tip sheet on coping with aggressive drivers.

Keep Your Kids Safe

When it comes to vehicles, when do know when your children need to be in a car seat? When do you know when they need to be in a booster seat?

Florida's laws regarding child restraint in vehicles are designed to help keep your children safe.

Click here to learn about Florida's child restraint laws.

Rainy Day Driving

The summer rainy season is here.

Rain is blamed for many traffic accidents each year but most are preventable if drivers know what to do. That’s why CCSO has put together a list of tips that will help you stay safe on the road when it’s raining.

Click here to watch a video about our wet weather driving tips.

Plz Don't TWD

CCSO advises drivers to pull over and stop if they need to use a cell phone, whether it's for talking or texting.

If you must talk on your cell phone while driving, use a hands-free device.

Text-messaging while driving should always be avoided.

Click here to watch the video.

Deputies Enforcing Red Light Laws

Motorists who get caught failing to stop for a red traffic signal can expect to pay up this week, National Stop On Red Week.

Getting caught running a red light in Collier County will set you back $203.

The annual national campaign to stop red-light running started Sunday and ends Saturday.

CCSO is joining law enforcement agencies across the country to raise awareness of the dangers of running a red light.

Deputies will be conducting enforcement operations throughout Collier County during the campaign in an effort to make our local roadways a safer place.

If you see an intersection where people are always running red lights or know of a stretch of road that’s a favorite for speeders, we want to hear about it.

Call the CCSO Traffic Hotline at 530-ZOOM (966) and give us the information. We’ll pass it along to the deputies so they can check it out.

Click here to check out our video on red light safety tips.

CCSO Traffic Enforcement Spots For 8-4-2008

Monday, Aug. 4

Davis Boulevard and Airport-Pulling Road – Red Light Running
Vanderbilt Beach Road and Collier Boulevard – Aggressive Driving
Livingston Road and Golden Gate Parkway – Red Light Running

Tuesday, Aug. 5

Santa Barbara Boulevard and Radio Road – Red Light Running
Immokalee Road and Interstate 75 – Speeding
Oakes Boulevard and Vanderbilt Beach Road – Aggressive Driving

Wednesday, Aug. 6

Airport-Pulling Road and Radio Road – Red Light Running
U.S. 41 North and Pine Ridge Road – Red Light Running
U.S. 41 East and Collier Boulevard – Red Light Running

Thursday, Aug. 7

Collier Boulevard and Pine Ridge Road _ Red Light Running
U.S. 41 North and Immokalee Road – Speeding
Logan Boulevard and Vanderbilt Beach Road – Aggressive Driving

Friday, Aug. 9

Golden Gate Parkway and Interstate 75 – Red Light Running
Airport-Pulling Road and U.S. 41 East – Speeding
Santa Barbara Boulevard and Golden Gate Parkway - Speeding

Safety Campaign Targets Red Light Runners

WHAT: National Stop On Red Week

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 3, 2008, through Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008

WHERE: Collier County

SUMMARY: CCSO deputies will be on the lookout for motorists who fail to stop for a red traffic signal when the annual national campaign to stop red-light running gets under way next week.

CCSO will join law enforcement agencies across the country to raise awareness of the dangers of running a red light.

Florida ranks near the top of the list of states for crashes and a third of those are caused by running red lights.

Deputies will be conducting enforcement operations throughout Collier County during the campaign in an effort to make our local roadways a safer place.

Running a red light in Collier will set you back $203.

If you see an intersection where people are always running red lights or know of a stretch of road that’s a favorite for speeders, we want to hear about it.

Call the CCSO Traffic Hotline at 530-ZOOM (966) and give us the information. We’ll pass it along to the deputies so they can check it out.

CCSO offers these tips for drivers for improving intersection safety and avoiding red-light running and red-light runners:

* Slow down and prepare to stop when a light turns yellow.

* Yield to pedestrians. They have the right of way regardless of whether the intersection is marked or unmarked.

* Proceed through intersections with caution even after the light turns green and be mindful of your own safety.

* Come to a complete stop before turning on red.

* Yield to vehicles making a U-turn when turning right on red.

Click here to check out our video on red light safety tips.