Drivers on Sarasota County's deadliest roads for pedestrians and cyclists will see extra sheriff's deputies starting Monday, Aug. 10, as a state-funded enforcement blitz rolls out across 14 high-crash corridors.

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office announced Thursday, July 30 that it received funding for a High Visibility Enforcement initiative targeting pedestrian and bicycle safety. The patrols will run through Friday, May 7, 2027.

Sarasota County ranks in the top 25 Florida counties for traffic crashes resulting in serious and fatal injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists, according to the sheriff's office.

Where deputies will patrol

The 14 corridors, chosen from statistical crash data, span the county:

  • Tamiami Trail South — seven separate segments between Gulf Gate Drive and Roberts Road, including stretches near Gulf Gate, Pocono Trail East, West Seminole Drive, Englewood Road, Bayshore Road, Blackburn Point Road, and Collins Road
  • Bahia Vista Street from Graber Avenue to Tara Vista Avenue
  • Midnight Pass Road from Seaside Drive to north of Casa Mar
  • 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
  • SR 776 from Church Avenue to West Fray Street
  • University Parkway from Tuttle Avenue to Lockwood Ridge Road

The program has expanded each year since 2024. The 2024–25 cycle covered 10 corridors; 2025–26 grew to 12. This year adds four new locations, including Midnight Pass Road and SR 776.

Education first, citations possible

Enforcement will focus primarily on education, the sheriff's office said. Violations may result in warnings or citations, meaning deputies can issue a ticket but aren't required to.

Deputies will receive special training on Florida's bicycle and pedestrian laws as part of the program. The agency's Traffic Unit investigated 3,174 crashes countywide in 2025, according to a Venice Sun report on Sheriff Kurt Hoffman's annual report.

The office has been ramping up road safety enforcement. During a "Southern Slow Down" campaign the week of July 13, deputies issued 785 citations and warnings countywide.

How it's funded

The money comes from the Florida Department of Transportation through a contract with the University of North Florida's Institute of Police Technology and Management. The sheriff's office receives funds for overtime hours and specialized training. No dollar amount has been disclosed.

The program is part of FDOT's statewide "Alert Today Florida" pedestrian and bicycle safety initiative, launched in 2011, which contracts with law enforcement agencies in priority counties.

What drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians should know

The sheriff's office advises drivers to obey speed limits, never drive impaired, and watch for pedestrians and cyclists. Bicyclists should ride in the direction of traffic and use lights at night. Pedestrians are asked to cross in crosswalks or at intersections and stay visible after dark.

The Aug. 10 start date coincides with the first day of the Sarasota County Schools school year. The HVE program is separate from the city of Sarasota's school zone speed cameras, which also reactivate that day. The next enforcement detail begins that Monday on the corridors listed above.