FHP budget cuts threaten popular program

TAMPA - On I-275 somebody is giving the bad news to a loved one or the boss saying, "I'm ok, but I had an accident on the interstate." Yet the officers doing the paperwork are not state troopers, instead, they are Community Service Officers, CSOs and they do the reports and they write the tickets so the troopers can move onto the next emergency.

However, with the state looking to save money anywhere it can, the $1.4 million that pays for the CSOS is on the chopping block, and the officers are fighting back.

Toni Gugliotta, an 11 year veteran says, "we haven't had a raise in three years but we're not asking for a raise, we just want the postions, we want the jobs."

This day Gugliotta is working a rear-ender on Seminole Boulevard, and her experience shows.

Pointing a driver to some marks on the car she rear-ended, Gugliotta says, "this is the imprint of the grill". Because the imprint is on an angle, she says, it proves the driver's story that she swerved to avoid another vehicle stopped short in front of her.

The way Gugliotta sees it, if the legislature ends the CSO program, troopers will end up spending all their time investigating crashes, instead of ticketing speeders, not to mention enforcing traffic laws.

Enforcement? "It's going to go down.' Gugliotta says, adding, that "the money (from fines) is not going to be generated. "We asked, its not going to be as safe on the highway?" "Absolutely", is her answer.

"I treat people the way I want to be treated", Gugliotta says, "when I'm involved in a crash, I don't want to have to wait there an hour for somebody to show up, or 45 minutes". Drivers agree. Brittany Charles, clutching a ticket that is going to cost her $166 and driving school, says she's glad the CSOs are on the road.

"I'm supposed to be at work in 4 mintues", Charles said,"and I thank God that they're here, because if I had to wait a couple more hours, its crucial, I'm supposed to be at work".

Some, like State Senator Mike Fasano of New Port Richey, say it will cost more in lost fines to cut the C-S-Os than to keep them.

Here is a link to the FHP's budget cuts petition: http://media2.myfoxtampabay.com/html/misc/FHPPetition.pdf
You will then need to send the petition to 7651 U.S. 19 North, Pinellas Park, FL 33781