Source
State Archives of Florida, Series S125
Description
A petition from 172 "angry citizens" of Florida, namely in Bradley, requesting that Florida be taken off Daylight Saving Time, dated January 28, 1974.
General Note
In 1973, the United States was facing energy shortages and developed a variety of approaches to conserve energy as a result, including the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act of 1973. This legislation established a trial period of year-round Daylight Saving Time (DST) from January 6, 1974 to April 27, 1975. The hope was that an extra hour of daylight in the evening would reduce energy consumption, especially the use of electricity.
In Florida, the change to year-round DST came with serious consequences. In the first few weeks after the time change was enacted, several school-aged children were injured in traffic accidents in the dark mornings on their way to school.
In response to these accidents, there was an outpouring of citizen correspondence to Governor Askew expressing their opinions on year-round DST and whether or not Florida should move to counteract the Federal mandate within the state.
On January 29th, 1974, the Florida Legislature met for a special session to discuss DST. At the end of this session, no legislation was passed, and Florida continued to comply with the year-round Daylight Saving Time that President Nixon established.
In 2018, the Florida Legislature passed the “Sunshine Protection Act” (HB1013/SB858), stating that Florida will enact a year-round DST, provided that the federal Uniform Time Act of 1966 is amended to permit states to do so.
Jan. 24, 1974
PETITION
WE THE UNDERSIGNED WANT THE STATE OF FLORIDA EXEMPT FROM THE TIME CHANGE AND LEFT ON STANDARD TIME BECAUSE OF THE SCHOOL KIDS FACTOR AND THE FIVE DEATHS THAT HAVE BEEN CAUSED ALREADY BY THE TIME BEING CHANGED
2 Mr and Mrs W. R. Jenkins Bradley, Fla.
4 Mr and Mrs Clifford Bradley, Fla
5 Wallace Jane Bradley Fla.
7 Mr and Mrs James R Danforth Bradley, Fla.
9 Mr and Mrs T. J. Sheffield Bradley. Fla.
11 Mr and Mrs Frank Bryan [Pierce?], Fl
12 Mr Alfonszo Smith Bradley Fla
13 Mrs Q. L. Hale Bradley, Fla.
14 Mrs Gordon Hagan
16 Mr, Mrs Paul C Ogilvie Bradley “Fla.”
17 Eula [Larned?] Bradley
18 Mr and Mrs. Robert Watson Bradley
19 and 20 Mr and Mrs Robert L Edward Braldey
21 – 22 Mr and Mrs David J Thornton Bradley
23. Mrs. Leslie E. Cosey
24 – 25 Mr and Mrs Cecil Mizele
26. Janet Mathers, Bradley, Fla.
27 – Mrs. Curtis Howell
28. Sawyer Howell
Chicago Manual of Style
Citizens of Florida. Petition from "the angry citizens" of Florida requesting that Florida be taken off Daylight Saving Time, January 28, 1974. 1974-01-28. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. <https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/350889>, accessed 15 November 2024.
MLA
Citizens of Florida. Petition from "the angry citizens" of Florida requesting that Florida be taken off Daylight Saving Time, January 28, 1974. 1974-01-28. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.<https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/350889>
AP Style Photo Citation
(State Archives of Florida/Citizens of Florida)
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