JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and Florida Highway Patrol have made 22 arrests in connection with "Operation Braking News," a coordinated crackdown on street racing at car meet-up events around the city that Sheriff T.K. Waters said was driven by mounting citizen complaints and a surge in traffic fatalities.
"Time and time again, citizens approach me at events, while I'm out running errands, while I'm out with my family, reporting reckless driving," Waters said during a Tuesday news conference announcing the results of the operation. "Jacksonville citizens are tired of their roadways being rendered unsafe, and they have empowered me to use the resources of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office to catch those who violate traffic laws."
The 22 individuals charged are facing a variety of felonies and misdemeanors including street racing, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, resisting law enforcement, illegal firearms possession, and drug possession. JSO also issued 28 traffic citations and civil traffic law violations during the enforcement action.
Waters said the operation was spurred in part by Jacksonville's traffic fatality numbers, which he said far exceed the city's homicide count. Jacksonville has recorded just 24 murders so far this year compared to more than 100 traffic deaths.
The crackdown included a highly visible law enforcement response at the Tinseltown shopping center off Southside Boulevard on Saturday night, where a large car gathering drew a coordinated police presence that witnesses described as swift and methodical. Seth Ouk, a sous chef at Soupa Noodle Bar in Tinseltown, said he saw about 20 police cars and a helicopter in the sky as officers moved in to block exits.
"I've never seen a sting like that. It was actually pretty crazy," Ouk said.
