Florida Highway Patrol experiences personnel crisis: "The situation is out of control"

Florida is facing a traffic safety crisis with a dangerously low number of state agents patrolling the roads. The situation, fueled by a lack of funding and political gridlock in the state legislature, has raised alarm among police leaders, who warn that the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is on the brink of collapse.

"I would say that the Highway Patrol and road safety in Florida are in a critical situation. The situation is out of control," stated Local 10 Paul Novack, a member of the agency's advisory board.

The Patrol, which is part of the Department of Road Safety and Motor Vehicles, has been experiencing a growing staff shortage.

According to Agent William Smith, president of the FHP chapter of the Benevolent Police Association, the main causes are low salaries and a lack of professional development.

"We are losing more police officers than we can hire," he stated. "It's the starting salary. There is no career progression. The salary stays the same until the legislature decides to give you a raise."

Currently, the starting salary for a state police officer in Florida is just over $54,000 a year, which is significantly lower than that of other agencies in the state and the country. Meanwhile, $10 million is allocated annually for overtime, an amount that Smith considers insufficient. "We need to double our overtime. We need to reach $20 million," he emphasized.

In a letter to the President of the Florida House of Representatives, Cuban-American Daniel Pérez, Spencer Ross -president of the FHP section of the Fraternal Order of Police- strongly criticized lawmakers for failing to fulfill salary promises.

"During the current legislative session and the ongoing budget negotiations, there has been absolute silence regarding the funding for the FHP and the much-anticipated promises of salary increases for the agents. They are using us as a pawn in the midst of a political tug-of-war," wrote Ross.

The demand is clear: the agents fulfill their duty under pressure and require reciprocity.

"Yes, as you said, keeping one's word is fundamental to leadership, I respectfully urge you to reflect on the promises made not only to your fellow legislators but also to the people of Florida and those who protect them. The police officers in this state have fulfilled their duty; it's time for you and the Florida House of Representatives to fulfill yours," he added.

Representative Dan Daley criticized the lack of action and emphasized the need for profound reforms.

"Let's take the FHP and perhaps incorporate it into the FDLE. Maybe we'll turn it into an independent entity. I don't know what the definitive structural solution is, but I don't think our current process is working very well."

Currently, the proposed budget includes funding for new vehicles, aircraft, and professional development plans, but it does not provide for salary increases for the agents, despite the governor's requests.

Meanwhile, reckless driving and road incidents continue to rise, with not enough agents to address them.

"There is a lot of reckless driving, speeding, road rage, and at the same time, very little visibility of the agents. There simply aren't enough," warned Novack.

For many, the solution lies in an urgent investment: it is estimated that at least 70 million dollars are needed to restore adequate levels of staff and salaries in the Highway Patrol.

"If only 2% of the highway tolls were allocated to the FHP, there would be no more problems. But that's not happening," lamented Novack.

The underlying warning is clear: legislative inaction could result not only in high financial costs but also in an increasing threat to public safety on Florida's roadways.

With this shortage of personnel, this week Governor Ron DeSantis presented to President Trump's administration a immigration proposal that would allow the state's National Guard to act as a judicial authority in deportation processes, and would empower the FHP to carry out immigration raids independently.

DeSantis reported that 100 officers from the agency have already been certified as deputy marshals under the 287(g) program, allowing them to execute federal court orders and "remove dangerous criminal aliens."

He assured that the officers now have the authority to carry out immigration operations autonomously, including arrests and processing for deportation.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Florida Highway Patrol Crisis and its Implications for Immigration Policies