Do Traffic Cops Have Quotas?

It often comes up, especially around the holidays. Many times I have heard friends and clients express the opinion that traffic enforcement increases around the end of the month, or during the holidays, because law enforcement is out to meet their quota of traffic citations. Interestingly, Florida has a specific statute that addresses this subject.

Section 316.640 of the Florida Statutes vest the authority to enforce the State’s traffic laws in the Florida Highway Patrol, law enforcement officers from various agencies like Fish and Wildlife, Environmental Protection, the Department of Transportation, and University and Community College Police on or adjacent to the campuses. This section of the Statute specifically states that “[a]n agency of the state…is prohibited from establishing a traffic citation quota.” § 316.640(1)(a)(2), Fla. Stat.

However, the Statute continues on in separate sections to vest the authority to enforce the State’s traffic laws in county sheriffs and municipal police officers within their jurisdictions but conspicuously fails to apply the quota prohibition to these officers. So while you can be reasonably confident that State officers don’t have quotas, you cannot be so sure that local law enforcement isn’t writing you the ticket to meet a quota.