Inspectors issue 62 bed bug warnings to Florida hotels, motels and apartments in 2011

TAMPA - The thought of bed bugs makes most people squirm, as they attack right when you are in the middle of a deep sleep.  They have been around for years and many thought they were finally eradicated after World War II by the use of DDT.

But the pesticide has since been banned because it's so toxic to the environment. So the little buggers have returned.

In a special I-team investigation, we looked through the latest inspections and found 62 Florida hotels, motels and apartments busted by the state in 2011.

Of those 62 places, there are 7 hotels, motels or apartments in the bay area with problems and that includes 2 in Hillsborough County, 2 in Pinellas, 2 in Polk and 1 in Sarasota.

In Hillsborough County, state inspectors found bed bugs on April 12, 2011 inside Gibtown Inn located at 11545 S US Highway 41 in Gibsonton. State inspectors observed live vermin in room 11 and required a follow-up inspection. Two weeks later, inspectors returned and documented the motel corrected the problem and met inspection standards.

At the Rodeway Inn at 210 E Fowler Avenue in Tampa, inspectors observed live vermin on January 20, 2011. Bed bugs and evidence of bed bug activity was observed in rooms 125, 127, 128, and 129. All rooms on the second floor were closed and not for rent. Inspectors went back on February 4th and found the motel met inspection standards.

In Pinellas County, inspectors found live vermin at Franky's Apartments located at 1450 Franklin Street in Clearwater on June 28, 2011. According to the inspection report, bed bugs live and dead were noted in both mattresses and couch in excess and state inspectors required a follow up visit to make sure the problem was resolved.

On February 2, 2011 Serenity Towers at 880 Oleander Way South in South Pasadena had problems with live bed bugs. State inspectors found spots of fecal matter and blood on sheets and pillows in both rooms 411 and 508. Then, during a separate inspection April 25, 2011 inspectors again observed live bed bugs in unit 408 and required a follow up inspection. On May 10th inspectors went back and found the apartment complex to have met inspection standards.

In Polk County, the Ashford Inn at 1025 Lakeshore Drive in Lakeland was inspected on May 19, 2011 and inspectors discovered live bed bugs in room 660. Inspectors went back for a follow up inspection on June 2nd and again observed live bed bugs in room 660. On July 21st, state inspectors returned and still did not find the property up to code, documenting more critical violations and requiring another follow up inspection.

Also in Polk County, Regal Grand Lakeside Inn & Suites at 910 E Memorial Boulevard in Lakeland had live bed bugs in room 1361, according to the inspection done on June 2, 2011. Inspectors went back 2 weeks later and cleared the property of all critical violations.

And in Sarasota, a guest filed a complaint on March 31, 2011 against Siesta Inn at 4847 North Tamiami Trail after saying he got bitten by bed bugs while sleeping in room #12. State inspectors observed some spots on the box spring and the hotel was treating the room with pesticides purchased locally. But inspectors recommended the motel use a professional trained in the detection and treatment of bed bugs. But they did not require a follow up inspection as inspectors found no hard evidence of bed bugs.

If you want to file a complaint after getting bitten by bed bugs at a local hotel, motel, or apartment, go to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation's complaint web page at  https://www.myfloridalicense.com/complaintlist.asp .