Inside 'Operation Wolfpack' traffic stops in Lee County

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

Deputies in Lee County are working to reduce reckless driving through Operation Wolfpack, an initiative targeting careless, aggressive, and dangerous driving behaviors. Gulf Coast News got an exclusive ride-along as deputies conducted 90 stops Tuesday.

The operation aims to address driving behaviors that can lead to crashes and injuries.

“So aggressive driving, it causes crashes," said Deputy George Engren. "It causes pain and suffering and injury, rapid lane changes, which cause all kinds of different problems. People react differently when they see erratic driving, passing within 100 feet of an intersection, passing on the wrong side, failing to yield when somebody is coming up."

During an exclusive ride-along, Engren stopped a driver speeding through a school zone on Summerlin Road.

“He was doing 63 in a 45-mile-per-hour school zone,” Engren said.

Another driver was stopped for carelessly changing lanes.

“It crossed through the safety zone in order to move into the third lane,” Engren said.

Both incidents ended with tickets, but fortunately, not in tragedy.

“What motivates us all is to see people get home at night, you know, get to see their children again, get to their wives, the loved ones,” Engren said.

Deputies made 90 stops during the day, bringing the total to more than 540 stops in the last three weeks.

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