NEWS RELEASE 26-041 - JULY 31, 2026
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has received funding for a High Visibility Enforcement (HVE) initiative aimed at reducing traffic crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists.
Sarasota County ranks in the top 25 counties in Florida for traffic crashes resulting in serious and fatal injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists. To protect the safety of vulnerable road users, the sheriff’s office will conduct HVE details to increase awareness of and compliance with traffic laws that protect the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. Enforcement efforts will focus primarily on education; however, violations may result in warnings or citations.
These details will begin on Monday August 10, 2026, and go through May 7, 2027, focusing on predetermined locations based on statistical crash data. These areas include:
• Bahia Vista Street from Graber Avenue to Tara Vista Avenue
• Tamiami Trail South from Gulf Gate Drive to Upper Elmwood Avenue
• Midnight Pass Road from Seaside Drive to north of Casa Mar
• Tamiami Trail South from Pocono Trail East to Albee Road East
• Tamiami Trail South from West Seminole Drive to Shamrock Drive
• Tamiami Trail South from Englewood Road to Alligator Drive
• Tamiami Trail South Bayshore Road to Gulf Avenue
• Bee Ridge Road from Beneva Road to McIntosh Road
• Beneva Road from Tamiami Trail South to Sarasota Square Boulevard
• Fruitville Road from McIntosh Road to Richardson Way
• Tamiami Trail South from Blackburn Point Road to East Bay Street
• Tamiami Trail South from Collins Road to Roberts Road
• SR776 from Church Avenue to West Fray Street
• University Parkway from Tuttle Avenue to Lockwood Ridge Road
Drivers are encouraged to always obey speed limits, never drive impaired, and watch out for pedestrians and bicyclists. Bicyclists should obey traffic laws, ride in the direction of traffic, and use lights at night. Pedestrians are asked to cross in crosswalks or at intersections, obey pedestrian signals, and make sure they are visible to drivers when walking at night.
Funding for this initiative is provided through a contract with the University of North Florida and the Institute of Police Technology and Management in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation. The sheriff’s office will receive funds for overtime hours to conduct operations
and special training on Florida’s bicycle and pedestrian laws, procedures, and best practices.![]()
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has received funding for a High Visibility Enforcement (HVE) initiative aimed at reducing traffic crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists.
Sarasota County ranks in the top 25 counties in Florida for traffic crashes resulting in serious and fatal injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists. To protect the safety of vulnerable road users, the sheriff’s office will conduct HVE details to increase awareness of and compliance with traffic laws that protect the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. Enforcement efforts will focus primarily on education; however, violations may result in warnings or citations.
These details will begin on Monday August 10, 2026, and go through May 7, 2027, focusing on predetermined locations based on statistical crash data. These areas include:
• Bahia Vista Street from Graber Avenue to Tara Vista Avenue
• Tamiami Trail South from Gulf Gate Drive to Upper Elmwood Avenue
• Midnight Pass Road from Seaside Drive to north of Casa Mar
• Tamiami Trail South from Pocono Trail East to Albee Road East
• Tamiami Trail South from West Seminole Drive to Shamrock Drive
• Tamiami Trail South from Englewood Road to Alligator Drive
• Tamiami Trail South Bayshore Road to Gulf Avenue
• Bee Ridge Road from Beneva Road to McIntosh Road
• Beneva Road from Tamiami Trail South to Sarasota Square Boulevard
• Fruitville Road from McIntosh Road to Richardson Way
• Tamiami Trail South from Blackburn Point Road to East Bay Street
• Tamiami Trail South from Collins Road to Roberts Road
• SR776 from Church Avenue to West Fray Street
• University Parkway from Tuttle Avenue to Lockwood Ridge Road
Drivers are encouraged to always obey speed limits, never drive impaired, and watch out for pedestrians and bicyclists. Bicyclists should obey traffic laws, ride in the direction of traffic, and use lights at night. Pedestrians are asked to cross in crosswalks or at intersections, obey pedestrian signals, and make sure they are visible to drivers when walking at night.
Funding for this initiative is provided through a contract with the University of North Florida and the Institute of Police Technology and Management in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation. The sheriff’s office will receive funds for overtime hours to conduct operations
and special training on Florida’s bicycle and pedestrian laws, procedures, and best practices.