State police to inspect drivers and vehicles!

HILLSBOROUGH, Florida - January 6, 2009 - The Florida Highway Patrol announced today that it will conduct random driver's license and vehicle inspection checks throughout Pasco and Hillsborough counties this month.

Troopers will look for bad brakes, worn tires, defective lights and other vehicle problems that pose a danger to drivers, authorities said. They'll also seek out drivers who are breaking state license laws.

The FHP chooses different counties and areas to conduct inspections, depending on how heavy or light trooper staffing is during a particular period of time. Troopers typically find a safe place on a certain road, FHP spokesman Sgt. Steve Gaskins said, and they flag down drivers during daylight hours.

"We don't have an annual vehicle inspection like other states do, so this is a way to make sure people are driving safe vehicles," Gaskins said.

The annual vehicle inspections ended under Florida Governor Bob Graham in 1981.