Civil Traffic Cases Double In 2006
By CHRIS BUTLER

SEBRING — Highlands County’s court docket saw a noticeable increase in 2006.

Highlands County Clerk of Court spokesman Bob Germain said the court’s docket increased in 2006 in both circuit criminal and juvenile cases.

But the court’s most dramatic increase over 2005 numbers was in its civil traffic cases, which nearly doubled.

Courthouse Docket
Germain released the following facts about the county’s 2006 courthouse docket compared to 2005’s.

u The number of court hearings in 2006 was 12,372 compared to 11,670 in 2005.

u Circuit criminal cases increased from 6,948 in 2005 to 7,284 in 2006.

u The number of juvenile court cases in 2006 was 1,399, compared to 983 in 2005.

u Civil traffic cases increased from 615 in 2005 to 1,084 in 2006.

Population Increase
Highlands County Court officials could offer no reason for the increase Thursday. The increased court docket is coinciding with an increase in the county’s overall population.

The county’s previous migration trend was usually that of upper and middle-class northerners who stay throughout the winter months, according to Highlands County Sheriff Susan Benton. But that’s changing.

Benton said earlier this month that increasing numbers of younger families and retiring baby boomers are coming to the area from the state’s southeastern and southwestern coasts.

Assistant State Attorney Steve Houchin said the increase in the court docket hasn’t escaped his attention.

“Our office over the years has certainly seen an increase in its docket and now our staff. We’re at 11 lawyers now and just added one over the past year. It’s been a steady progression,” Houchin said Thursday.

Other trends Benton said her office is noticing include more growth in Highlands County’s unincorporated areas than in its surrounding two cities and one town.

Meanwhile, calls for service to the sheriff’s office have increased, she added.

Vehicle registrations in Highlands County have increased 32 percent, Benton said.

Traffic Citations

The number of traffic citations issued in 2006 differed from 2005.

Sebring Police Inspector Lamar Forbes reported an increase of 3,575 traffic citations handed out in 2006, as opposed to 2,495 in 2005.

“My crystal ball is a little bit cloudy on the reason for the increase. More traffic is the reason no doubt,” Forbes said.

Avon Park Police Department Records Custodian Linda LaPointe said Avon Park Police officers gave out 2,475 citations in 2006, compared to 1,877 in 2005.

But the town of Lake Placid experienced a decrease, according to Lake Placid Police Department Office Manager Gloria Pettis.
She said 776 traffic citations were handed out in 2006, compared to 1,049 in 2005.