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Thanks to the passing of an ordinance at today’s Board meeting, Polk County pedestrians are no longer allowed to linger in medians or initiate contact with the occupants of motor vehicles. The ordinance prohibits dangerous uses of public rights-of-way.
“The intent here is to keep people from standing in Polk County’s medians,” said George Lindsey, Chairman of Polk County’s Board of County Commissioners. “This ordinance is intended to decrease the number of fatalities and injuries on our roadways.”
The Polk County Transportation Planning Organization recently adopted the Florida Department of Transportation Safety Performance Target of zero for fatalities, number of serious injuries, fatality rate, serious injury rate, and number of non-motorized fatalities and serious injuries on roads within Polk County. Currently, Polk County averages 83 pedestrian- and bike-related fatalities and serious injuries each year. Overall, Polk County averages 135 road fatalities annually.
“We’ve got long ways to go,” Lindsey said. “This a step in the right direction, though.”
The ordinance will be enforced by the Sheriff of Polk County. Failure to comply will result in fines of $25 to $500, and a third offense may result in a penalty of up to 60 days in jail.