Law enforcement issues 223 citations during a speed enforcement operation on Gandy

In the ongoing initiative to tackle street racing and speeding on Gandy Boulevard and the bridge, law enforcement officers issued a total of 223 citations over the weekend.

The St. Petersburg Police Department announced in a press release on Wednesday that the operation engaged six different agencies. Alongside the issued citations, 156 warnings were provided to drivers.

The persistent issues of speeding and street racing in the vicinity of the Gandy Bridge and other areas across Tampa Bay have prompted these measures.

“The operation is the latest in an ongoing multi-agency effort to address street racing and speeding along the span between Pinellas and Hillsborough counties,” the police department’s news release states.

The majority of the citations were handed out to drivers exceeding the speed limit by 20 to 30 mph, with the limit set at 55 mph on the bridge.

“High speed increases the severity of injuries and damage upon impact,” the news release states. “Following the speed limit is for the safety of everyone on the roadway.”

Police said they also cited a number of drivers for not following the “move over law,” which requires drivers to move over a lane “for stopped law enforcement, emergency, sanitation, utility service vehicles, tow trucks, and maintenance or construction vehicles with displayed warning lights.”

The law stipulates that drivers unable to change lanes due to traffic conditions must reduce their speed by 20 mph below the posted speed limit.

Participating in the crackdown were several other agencies, including the Florida Highway Patrol, the Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office, the Pinellas Sheriff’s Office, the Pinellas Park Police Department, and the Tampa Police Department.