Watcher's Blog

The tragedy of I-4 is being covered up by the FHP by issuing tickets to the victims of that massive pile-up.  Amy K wrote that the last officer to patrol that stretch did so at 3:15am, less than 2 HOURS before the pileup!

The conditions had to be bad due to the burning brushfires and overnight fog already, but obviously closing I-4 would have drawn critisism for the inconvienance so the FHP did nothing!

The officers who saw the conditions pre- 5am and the shift commander(s) should be held accountable for bad judgement.  A 6 month investigation is now going on which will fade from the public concern before it is done, thus saving the jobs of the FHP involved.

If they remove a drunk driver from the road BEFORE they cause an accident, why did they not take precautions and close that section?!

Did they ticket the families of those who died as well?

FHP- take your responsibility!

Once again the brave men and women of our police forces are out protecting you and yours from one of the most heinous of all criminals-the unbuckled seat belt driver!

You'd have to be a complete idiot to see that it's a very thin-veiled propaganda to find a safe, easy way to boost their coffers. How many people driving unbuckled flee from the police or shoot at them? Especially at checkpoints!!!

If the police forces want to make a REAL impact on the crime in this county and state, they would set up many-annual raids on known areas of drug activity, prostitution and violent crimes. How many businesses have been robbed repeatedly over the years? Why not stake them out?

I am not impressed at my tax dollars paying for these fund raising events staged on holiday weekends and the like just so the police can make it sound like they are going after the real criminals in Florida.

And yes, I buckle up every time I drive. What's next, crooked rear view mirror violators?

OK, we see the announcements every holiday season, how the cops are going to "get tough" on speeders, red light runners or traffic violators de jour.  Is this a publicity stunt or a thrice yearly "benefit' to shore up their coffers?  It sure seems that they aren't too concerned the rest of the year!

Case in point:  I was driving up West Colonial the other day, heading west and stopped at the intersection of Hiawassee.  There were TWO Orange county deputies in TWO cars, sitting at different corners in the front of the others waiting for the lights to change.  When the light you're sitting at turns green, you know that the cross light is red.  Not yellow, a solid red!

 I counted SIX (6) cars that flew through the intersection against a HARD red light, in full view of both deputies.  Instead of pulling out as they had the right of way, both deputies sat there doing NOTHING!  OK, they're waiting for it to clear and THEN go after the lead foots, right?

WRONG!!!!!  Both turned in the direction I was heading and I was able to follow them, maybe to see if they had an emergency, maybe to get their car numbers.  After several blocks, they both pulled into a fast food establishment!!!  trouble inside?  No, because it's where I was going in the first place.  I sat in there eating my lunch as they had theirs, joking and reading their paper.

I guess law breakers should time their deadly race games just before lunchtime for the cops from now on.  An empty stomach is more important to fill then preventing a deadly car accident in their eyes.