Each week, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office releases a list entitled ‘Special Traffic Enforcement Locations’. These locations, divided into intersection and speed enforcement, will receive extra patrol from the Traffic Unit as a team throughout the stated week. Intersection enforcement is primarily based on crash statistics. Locations for speed enforcement are selected after a speed study or a Traffic Deputy validates the need through individual patrol.
Corporal David Stefanini, a supervisor in the Traffic Unit, monitors enforcement requests and complaints from the public. After a traffic complaint is entered into the system, Cpl. Stefanini sends a member of the Traffic Unit to monitor the area. “When someone submits a complaint, adding the time of the violations is very helpful,” states Cpl. Stefanini. “This allows me to send deputies to locations at the time they are most likely to observe violations.” The Traffic Unit members document their activity in the report generated by the complaint, so that the person requesting enforcement is able to request the results.
When a location requires monitoring and a deputy is not available, equipment is placed at the location to conduct a speed study. The study is evaluated to determine a need for enforcement by looking at the data collected. The location of speed studies and individual enforcement by Traffic Unit members are not publicized so that an accurate picture of the problem can be captured.
“Safety is always the top priority when selecting enforcement locations,” states Cpl. Stefanini. “10 mph over the limit in a residential area presents different dangers than on a major roadway, so many factors are considered as we continue to our mission to ensure the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists in Charlotte County.”
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office encourages the public to submit information regarding areas of the county that may need additional traffic enforcement. The online form is located on our website, www.ccso.org, or at the following link: https://www.ccso.org/forms/default.cfm#TrafficRequest