32 arrested in street racing crackdown on Tampa Bay bridges, troopers say

A multi-agency crackdown on street racing Monday yielded 32 arrests on charges including driving under the influence and fleeing to elude police, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Operation Keep Our Streets focused on the Gandy Bridge and the Courtney Campbell Causeway, where people have been arrested for street racing at speeds over 100 mph, the highway patrol said in a news release Tuesday. The Howard Frankland Bridge — another roadway known for street racing — was not included because of construction.

During Monday’s crackdown, 32 people were arrested, including two on street racing charges and five on DUI charges, the news release states. Other charges included fleeing and eluding and driving on a suspended license.

In addition to the arrests, officers issued 162 traffic citations, 295 traffic warnings and 18 criminal citations. A total of 457 traffic stops were conducted for unsafe driving behaviors, including speeding, violation of a traffic control device and violation of the “move over” law.

The crackdown comes after Gov. Ron DeSantis in May signed Senate Bill 1764, which increases the maximum fine from $1,000 to $2,000 for people who participate in street racing or roadway takeovers. The bill also stiffens the penalties for repeat offenders and makes it a felony to interfere with emergency vehicles responding to calls.

Agencies that participated in the operation with the highway patrol included the Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg and Pinellas Park police departments, as well as the Hillsborough and Pinellas County sheriff’s offices.

“FHP is committed to ensuring Florida roadways are safe for everyone to travel,” Dave Kerner, executive director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, said in the news release. “This operation and its success reflect our commitment and provide ample warning to those who jeopardize public safety; FHP aggressively enforces traffic and criminal laws to protect our citizens and visitors.”

Anyone who encounters street racing, takeovers or stunt driving is encouraged to call 911 or the Florida Highway Patrol at *347. The highway patrol says you should avoid engaging with participants, remain calm and pull over to the side of the road if possible. To report an upcoming event or identify street racing participants, email StopRacing@flhsmv.gov.