Lake City may have thirteen thousand residents, but the traffic going through town makes it seem like a much bigger city. Police say they need help, and are hoping a state grant will put a brake on aggressive drivers.
Columbia County is known as the Gateway to Florida for it's rural living with urban access. The highways and interstates bring an excess of drivers to the area, which is why Lake City Police Department is requesting extra resources, they hope will grant traffic safety.
It took a lot of number crunching to prove their case, but Capt. John Blanchard, says Lake City is a worthy candidate for the Florida Department of Highway Safety Grant. The department is asking for 42,000 dollars, which Blanchard says includes the new equipment as well as overtime for sending officers to teach safe driving in classrooms and extra patrolling on the roads. They'll find out if this request is granted in the next couple of weeks.