Pickup cracks down on Milton speeders
Carmen Paige
cpaige@pnj.com
Milton speeders beware.
That seemingly innocuous white pickup truck you see on the road might, in fact, be a Milton Police Department vehicle clocking your acceleration.
Since being put into service March 1, the truck already has been used to stop 500 traffic violators, said George Holder, whose job title — aggressive driving traffic officer — pretty much says it all.
Actually, the Police Department wants motorists to know about the truck. The object is not to write speeding tickets but to serve as a deterrent to those who might disobey traffic laws.
“This is geared to reducing the number of crashes and the amount of property damage and personal injury by slowing down drivers,” Holder said.
Speeding, particularly along U.S. 90, is the No. 1 traffic infraction in the city.
The 2007 Chevrolet Silverado is equipped with a digital camera, radar, computer system, transport cage and handheld laser. Total value: $54,908. It was purchased using a grant from the Florida Department of Transportation.
The Gulf Breeze Police Department also uses an unmarked pickup truck to enforce traffic laws. That vehicle began operation in 2005.
In Milton, motor officer Mark Tinnirella provides another key traffic enforcement tool as he patrols the city on a motorcycle.
“Traffic enforcement isn’t about how many tickets you write, it’s about how much compliance you can get,” he said.
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