Monday, December 20 1999 | ||||||||
Tags help Islanders return Hanging tags will help islanders return quickly from an evacuation By TOM VAUGHT Herald Staff Writer
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ANNA MARIA ISLAND - If bad weather forces an evacuation of the islands this year, residents will be able to avoid long lines when they return - if they have a new hanging tag. The tags are meant to be stored in gloveboxes and hung from rear-view mirrors upon return to the islands. They replace the old system of front-bumper stickers that officials said became outdated when residents sold or bought their cars. Local police will initially limit return to the islands to residents and service providers. This will allow the service providers to restore power and clear roads, and residents to secure their homes without crowds of sightseers in the way. Each city has also adopted a computer program to store information about the island's residents and landowners. This information will be helpful to speed insurance payments and allow authorities to check on the condition of people who need special care. Residents will have to get their tags from the city hall in their city. The tags are free and will be replaceable every five years. They will be color-coded for the city in which the resident lives. Anna Maria gets light-blue tags, Bradenton Beach red, Holmes Beach green and Longboat Key white. Service providers will get yellow tags. The town of Longboat Key won't use the hanging tag system this year since half the town is in Sarasota County, which does not participate in the program. Town officials will issue letters for high-level service providers and those who need to return to the island early. Others returning will have to wait in traffic at the Cortez Bridge and at the Longboat Pass Bridge. Tags will be limited to one per family and are expected to speed the process of getting back on the island. Residents who leave without their tags should take two forms of identification, including one picture ID. Their return will take longer because of the time it will take authorities to check the IDs. Regardless of whether a resident has a hanging tag, authorities recommend they have two forms of ID in their possession when they leave the island.
The tags are expected to be available in early June.
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