TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) \u2013 Tampa police are enacting a \u201cSpecial Event Zone\u201d in downtown Tampa to prevent teen takeovers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you take part in criminal activity, expect criminal consequences,\u201d said Chief Lee Bercaw. \u201cWe are taking a zero-tolerance policy on this.\u201d<\/p>\n
The increased patrols and fines in downtown Tampa are just one example of the action agencies throughout the area are taking before trouble starts.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere in Pinellas County and in the state of Florida, it\u2019s over, we\u2019re not doing it,\u201d Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gaultieri said.<\/p>\n
Additional officers have been added at Clearwater Beach, where a 17-year-old was shot during one of the gatherings.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had word there was going to be another event out there; there were 60 cops out there on the beach. We set up the no trespass zone, somebody goes into those zones, it\u2019s a third-degree felony,\u201d Gaultieri describes.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s an increased urgency to prosecute individuals involved in the gatherings that often turn violent. Chief Anthony Holloway with the St. Petersburg Police Department spoke about the joint effort on the \u2018Rooted in Progress\u2019 podcast.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the law enforcement agencies in the Tampa Bay area were monitoring social media. If my people see something in Tampa, my intelligence officers are going to contact Tampa because they could have missed it,\u201d Chief Holloway said.<\/p>\n
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier plans to hold parents accountable for their teens\u2019 actions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re looking at some things we might be able to do at the, you know, the legislature to put more of an onus on parents. If someone is living under your roof, if they\u2019re under your supervision, you know, you\u2019ve got some responsibility,\u201d Uthmeier said.<\/p>\n
A social media post by the Tampa Police Department reads:<\/p>\n
Teen takeovers will not be tolerated in the City of Tampa. Anyone who violates the law will face criminal charges. On Friday, a Special Event Zone will be in effect in the downtown area, so expect increased law enforcement presence, increased fines, and vehicles impounded for violations. Similar Special Event Zones may also be established in other locations in the future as needed to protect public safety. In addition, parents and organizers may be held civilly liable. Teen takeovers are not harmless meetups. They put our community\u2019s safety at risk. If you see something, say something. Call 911 or 813-231-6130.<\/p>\n
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