What are the most common traffic citations in Sarasota and how to avoid them?
Sarasota Police Traffic Unit Officer Jason Frank breaks down the most common driving mistakes by locals and visitors.
Throughout 2022, officers gave 1,917 tickets for speeding on a state road, 1,555 tickets for speeding on a city road, 1,381 for careless driving, 693 tickets for speeding in a school zone, and 468 tickets for driving without a driver's license.
In case you missed it: Ceremony marks topping out of new wing at Sarasota Memorial Hospital Venice campus
More: 'Don't block the box:' Bradenton police tackle gridlock traffic
What was the most common ticket given?
The most common ticket officers gave was for speeding on a state road. This includes US 41, State Road 45, State Road 683, State Road 789, and State Road 780. Because these are open roads, oftentimes drivers will think it's a green light for them to speed.
The second most common traffic citation was given for speeding on a municipal road. Frank said the most common tend to be 12th Street, Floyd, Hillview, Main Street, or Ringling Boulevard.
The third most common citation was given for careless driving. Frank said that the majority of these citations are issued during a crash. It's a pretty broad citation, but officers must cite the nature of the violation. It could be because someone was driving too fast for road conditions, distracted driving, tailgating other cars, or driving on the wrong side of the road.
What do tickets cost?
The state has a flat-rate fee for tickets, but each county decides how much to add on top of that to fund city programs like Teen Court or drug intervention, Frank said. It's possible to receive a different speeding ticket fee in Manatee County than in Sarasota County because of this variability.
What times of the year are you most likely to receive a ticket?
Although the city is known for its snowbirds, there are also people that come year-round. For the most part, Sarasota sees a steady stream of traffic citations and warnings throughout the year. Usually, high volumes of visitors signal peak citation season, but Frank said that there are no longer specific visitor seasons with Sarasota's constant influx of people.
When do officers give tickets instead of warnings?
There could be a number of circumstances where officers decide to give a warning instead of a ticket. It can depend on if someone wasn't aware of the speed limit, is unfamiliar with the area, or maybe is speeding because of an emergency. It's really up to the officer conducting the traffic stop.
"There's no one answer to that other than it's every officer's discretion on whether they issue a warning," Frank said.
How to avoid tickets?
Frank said the best way to avoid receiving a ticket is to be aware of your surroundings, follow the city's traffic laws and take your time even if you're trying to beat the clock. It's easy to get glued to GPS when driving to a new area, but paying attention to street signs is just as important.
"You don't do yourself or anybody else good if you don't make it to where you're going safely," Frank said.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota traffic: Top five ticket citations issued
