Extra deputies from Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister's office are patrolling three corridors in the Apollo Beach and Ruskin area as part of a state-funded effort to reduce traffic violations that injure and kill pedestrians and cyclists.

The enforcement covers two stretches of U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail) and one segment of Gibsonton Drive, according to a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office news release published Monday. The program launched in September and runs through May 7, 2027.

Three south county corridors get extra patrols

The three local corridors are:

• U.S. 41 from East Shell Point Road to 19th Avenue Northeast, the main north-south artery through Apollo Beach and Ruskin.
• U.S. 41 from Ohio Street to Gibsonton Drive.
• Gibsonton Drive from U.S. 41 to New East Bay Road.

Those segments are among more than 40 corridors countywide included in the Florida Department of Transportation's High Visibility Enforcement Program. Hillsborough County ranks in the top 23 counties in Florida for traffic crashes that cause serious or fatal injuries to pedestrians and cyclists, the sheriff's office said.

Drivers, pedestrians and cyclists all face stops

Deputies on overtime patrols will target drivers who speed, fail to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, make improper turns, run signals or use handheld devices behind the wheel.

Enforcement goes both ways. Deputies will also stop pedestrians who cross outside crosswalks or fail to yield to drivers with the right of way. Cyclists can be stopped for riding against traffic, riding at night without lights or ignoring traffic laws that apply to motor vehicles.

The sheriff's office said deputies will issue warnings and citations when appropriate.

State contract covers deputies' overtime pay

The state transportation department pays for the program through a contract with the University of North Florida's Institute of Police Technology and Management. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office receives overtime funding so deputies can staff the extra patrols and conduct public education on bicycle and pedestrian safety.

The state program is part of the Alert Today Florida campaign, a data-driven initiative launched in 2011 to reduce serious and fatal pedestrian and cyclist crashes statewide.

The sheriff's office's share of the contract has not been released.

The state's Alert Today Florida website has additional pedestrian and bicycle safety resources.