The viral video of the lady speeding down Fort Myers Beach in a white jeep was all over Facebook and the local news channels this past weekend. It didn’t take long for the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to track her down. Here’s what we know.
Fort Myers Beach has an ordinance on its books prohibiting vehicles from driving on the beach. The ordinance says: “It is unlawful and prohibited to operate any engine-powered vehicle, machine, or implement, including any electrical powered vehicle, machine, or implement, on the beach, dune, or on sea turtle nesting habitat.”
The challenge with this type of ordinance is how to enforce it. Fort Myers Beach does not have a police department so enforcement falls to LCSO. The still unidentified female jeep driver was not caught in the act of violating the ordinance by LCSO so the process now is for LCSO to write up a summons request for violation of the town ordinance and submit it to the State Attorney’s Office. LCSO tells us that the incident did not occur in the presence of a law enforcement officer and is not a misdemeanor exception.
The video of the beach joy ride was posted on social media on Friday with local TV stations running stories throughout the weekend. All that coverage led to the woman being located in Lehigh. She is not a Lee County resident. She was in visiting the area from Michigan.
LCSO wants to remind residents and visitors that Traffic operations are being scheduled on the beach to address various violations of statute and/or ordinances. You are encouraged to call 239-477-1000 or 911 (as necessary) during the exact moment aggressive driving is witnessed. “This will allow us to respond without delay.”
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