Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez announces the Enhanced Traffic Enforcement Initiative

(MIAMI, April 16, 2015) – Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez and representatives from the Miami-Dade County Police Department, City of Miami Police Department and the Village of Key Biscayne Police Department are working in collaboration to develop a joint enforcement traffic plan for the Rickenbacker Causeway and the laws pertaining to vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

The traffic enforcement plan, formally known as the Enhanced Traffic Enforcement Initiative (ETEI), will educate the public on the traffic laws on the Rickenbacker Causeway, including Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and prevention, speeding and related bicycle and pedestrian laws. ETEI will also enhance visible and proactive police presence on the Causeway to ensure the safety and security of the public. Multi-agency DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols are also in place.

The initiative, which kicked-off on March 2, will run for 90 days during all shifts, seven days a week. There is an increased concentration during the 5 a.m. - 9 a.m. time frame, the peak time period for cyclists. Two highly trafficked events took place during the first month of the ETEI – Spring Break for college and university students, and the Miami Open. Both on-duty and off-regular duty personnel will be in place to assist with visibility and proactive presence. Since the launch, the ETEI has resulted in seven arrests, six being DUI and law enforcement has issued 882 traffic citations, 46 were issued to cyclists.

"Being a former cyclist, the safety of the cycling community, and our residents, is extremely important to me and my administration,” Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez said. “This partnership is already proving to be beneficial to the community.”

“Rules of the road must be obeyed in order to keep our roadways safe and traffic flowing expeditiously.  At the Miami-Dade Police Department, we are committed to keeping motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists safe by ensuring those laws that impact them are followed,” said Miami-Dade Police Director  J.D. Patterson.

“The Miami Police Department and our regional partners take our responsibility for public safety very seriously,” said City of Miami Police Chief Rodolfo Llanes. “This collaborative campaign of enforcement and education is beneficial to all that enjoy the wonderful benefits of living in a beautiful city.  We want to do our part to provide a safe environment for all to thrive.”

“It is imperative that all jurisdictions continue to work in concert with each other throughout the year in an effort to provide a safety umbrella to all users of the causeway,” Village of Key Biscayne Chief Charles R. Press said. “The Key Biscayne Police Department is committed to that goal.”