By Ken Jackson

Staff Writer

If you’ll be out and about Osceola County in the next week, celebrating the Fourth of July and watching fireworks, rest assured that law enforcement will be watching you.

With the holiday falling mid-week, 42.3 million Americans will be traveling more than 50 miles from home, according to the American Automobile Association, and local officials are already bracing for the added traffic with beefed up security measures. Those don’t even take into consideration the presence police and fire officials will have at annual fireworks extravaganzas at the Kissimmee and St. Cloud lakefronts and in Celebration.

Osceola County, for instance, will start the weekend by conducting a safety and DUI sobriety checkpoint tonight that Florida Highway Patrol will also participate in.

“We’re doing it the weekend prior to the Fourth because we anticipate more motorists on the road, and because of the resources required,” Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Twis Lizasuain said. “We’re hoping that by getting the word out, motorists will be more cautious.”

She said that saturation patrols, including aggressive driving enforcement and DUI units, also will be out in force looking for violators over the course of the week.

AAA noted that, with gas prices at their lowest levels in months, the number of Independence Day travelers will be at its highest since 2007. The Association, along with all municipal organizations, recommends that impaired drivers stay off the roads and utilize the “Tow and Go” program, operating July 4-7, by calling 1-800-AAA-HELP.

FHP noted in a press release Friday that all uniformed personnel, including those normally assigned to administrative duties, will be patrolling major roads throughout the holiday period in order to deter traffic violations and enhance services to motorists who break down or who need other assistance.

Lizasuain said that the Sheriff’s Department will have its resources at the holiday parade in Celebration, at the Kissimmee lakefront utilizing its marine unit on the lake and its Community Response Team among the crowds, and at St. Cloud’s lakefront celebration.

But, other than enforcement at its lakefront festivities Wednesday, Kissimmee Police department spokesperson Stacie Miller said this week will be like any other week at the office.

“Just doing what we normally do every day,” she said. “We’ll have our presence at the lakefront like every year. Normally for a holiday we wouldn’t have the motorcycle patrols on duty, but they’ll be there, and we’ve offered officers overtime to work at the lakefront and roam around places like the beer garden,” she said.

Denise Roberts of the St. Cloud Police Department said that besides its added presence at the lakefront for Tuesday and Wednesday's holiday events, extra units will be on standby to answer to any extra needs in the days and weekend following July 4.

Fire officials, concerned with residents’ use of personal fireworks at home to celebrate their own rocket’s red glare, are a little more at ease this year, with recent rains eliminating dry conditions in many areas that could spawn fires aided by firework embers.

“(Tropical Storm) Debby was a little blessing in that regard,” Kissimmee Fire Department spokesperson Joan Robinson said, noting that it, too, will have a presence at Lakefront Park on Wednesday.

As always, officials urge caution in using home fireworks such as sparklers, especially in the hands of children.