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Hurricane Readiness Includes ID To Lessen Checkpoint Hassles

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 20, 2008

The season's first skirmish with violent tropical weather has reminded folks living along the Gulf of Mexico to their stuff together. That means hang tags, too.

Residents or business owners in many of the Gulf Coast towns in Pinellas County have to show proof they have a vested interest in returning to town after a hurricane involving mandatory evacuations.

To do that, they must show proof to officers or deputies at checkpoints. Residents can get tags to hang from their rearview mirrors so law enforcement officers can wave them through and keep traffic moving.

In recent days, more and more people have been coming in for the tags.

"We've gave out 129 just on Monday," said Heide Neill, who keeps track of the tags at the St. Pete Beach fire station. She said anyone who lives in St. Pete Beach who can show proof they live there or own property there is eligible for a tag.

"Most people have them already," she said. The bulk of Monday's customers were people new to the city since last hurricane season. The charge is $1, she said, "just enough to cover the tags themselves."

A few miles north, the small beachside town of North Redington Beach also saw an influx of residents requesting tags.

"I think I did 47 on Monday," said Renee Schmader, deputy town clerk. The town began issuing the tags in May 2007 and has distributed 432, she said.

They are free in North Redington Beach, she said.

According to the Pinellas County emergency management Web site, the tags can make things easier when people return home or to their businesses after an evacuation order has been lifted.

"The police or National Guard will not have to check their ID and will wave the vehicle through," the Web site states. "The more people who have re-entry tags, the quicker the re-entry process."

Anyone who lives in a Gulf-side community can contact the local police or fire department or city hall for details.

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