Why should they be written? Citations…

Public Safety Funding the Court System

In 2006, there were 22,858 ALCOHOL RELATED CRASHES in Florida 11,446 involved injuries or death In 2006, there were 2,103 traffic deaths of drivers and passengers in SEAT BELT EQUIPPED VEHICLES 1,301 of the people killed were not wearing SEAT BELTS 50% 62% Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Traffic Crash Statistics Report 2006

There were 256,200 traffic crashes in 2006 involving FATALITIES, INJURIES & VEHICLE/PROPERTY DAMAGE Careless Driving Failed/Yield Right of Way Following too closely Ran Red Light Ran Stop Sign Speeding Some Contributing Factors were: Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Traffic Crash Statistics Report 2006

Nassau County tickets written in 2006 ChargeNumber DUI 211 Seat Belt/Child Restraint 1346 Careless Driving 431 Fail/Yield Right of Way 201 Follow Too Closely 112 Ran Red Light 1059 Ran Stop Sign 133 Speeding 4889 Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Traffic Crash Statistics Report 2006

After a rise of Crashes in 2004 & 2005… 2006 has begun a decline in the number of Crashes

What you are doing IS working

Year Number of Crashes Number of Alcohol-related Crashes Nassau County 4 year Crash Statistics

Effective July 1, 2004 Revision 7 to Article V of the Florida Constitution was passed Florida Courts shall be funded by local fines & fees Fines & Fees are generated by Law Enforcement

Clerks Office efforts to collect all fines and fees: Contracted a collection agency in 2005 October 2005 to June 2008 in delinquent traffic fines have been collected at no additional cost to Nassau County taxpayers. $273,158.84

Where do the fines & fees come from? OFFICERS writing citations to offenders

How has your agency been doing?

Civil/Criminal Traffic Citations

Civil/Criminal Traffic Citations January-June 2008

Where does the fine money go?

Article V Fee Schedule

COURT FACILITY TRUST FUND LOCAL COURT PROGRAMS TEEN COURT Court related functions, legal aid programs, law library, & juvenile alternative programs Maintenance, utilities, equipment, furnishings, etc for offices of the Clerk performing court-related functions Equipping courtrooms & jury facilities Staffing for all court functions

LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT Radio Communications Program Local Law Enforcement Education Crime Prevention Fund Workshops, meetings, conferences, conventions benefiting officer and agency

Local Education Dori Slosburg- Driver Safety Education…helps fund Drivers Ed in High Schools Nassau County Alcohol & Drug Abuse Fund- treatment & education

State Funds Child Welfare Trust Fund Juvenile Justice Trust Fund Brain & Spinal Cord Rehab 1 st Coast Crime Stoppers

That's why they call it dope ~~ Web photos lead to arrest By Shannon Malcom, News-Leader A 15-year-old Yulee girl has landed herself in legal trouble and likely ended her babysitting career with photos she allegedly posted on the Internet of her smoking marijuana with a child. The girl was arrested last week after police received an anonymous tip that she had pictures on her MySpace web page showing her smoking marijuana with a child approximately four or five years old. Nassau County detectives received the report from First Coast Crime Stoppers, an organization that takes anonymous crime tips and reports them to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Photos reportedly taken from the website were included in the report passed on to Nassau County detectives. In at least one of the pictures, "the child appeared to be smoking marijuana," the report said. On Friday, detectives interviewed the girl and she allegedly admitted she was "smoking a joint" with the child, whom she was babysitting at the time. "(The suspect) advised that she gave the child the marijuana cigarette to smoke and posted the photo on her MySpace website," the report said. Police searched the girl's home after obtaining a search warrant and removed a computer hard drive, a camera, a videocassette, four photographs and a plastic bag containing marijuana seeds, according to the report. The girl, who is not being identified because of her age, faces a charge of felony child abuse. The Yulee Middle School student was arrested Friday and initially taken to the Nassau County Jail, then released to the custody of her mother. The exact age and gender of the child has not been released.

What might keep an officer from writing citations?

Too much time in court Problem: Solution…

Judge Burgess, in conjunction with the Clerks Office, has implemented a new procedure for defendants to contest citations. Defendant can send Affidavit to Plea without appearing OR Defendant can Plea and Request to see the Judge

This will limit OFFICERS amount of time in court. Officers will only be subpoenaed when defendants plea Not Guilty and request to see the Judge Judge Burgess will accept a written Affidavit from officers in lieu of appearance when he/she is unavailable to appear

How can you help us?

As new officers are sworn in with your agency Please contact our office with OFFICER NAME & ID/ BADGE NUMBER

HELP PROVIDE ACCURATE RECORDS Correct DL # Correct DOB All blocks are completed Corresponding Florida Statute and charge marked Legible

Tickets must be turned in on time According to F.S (3)(a) …each traffic enforcement office,…shall deposit the original…with a court having jurisdiction over the alleged offense…within 5 days after issuance to the violator. To ensure timely payment by the violator To avoid unnecessary suspensions of DLs

Questions? Comments? Suggestions?

FBPDJason Smith230 Jason Hepler182 Marty Scott173 NCSOClifton "Doc" McDonald695 Brandon Smith401 Darrell Hickox359 FHPD.H. Mueller328 C.D. Woods322 S. Petty284 DOTKenneth Johnson274 Orville Thompson98 David Lewis97 FDACSEdward Riegal76 G.L. Penny37 D. Hughes22 FWCTim Sweat16 Tony Wright5 DEP/BPPChris Troedson15 Steve Vienneau5 Carl Middleton3

FBPDJason Smith230 Jason Hepler182 Marty Scott173 NCSOClifton Doc McDonald695 Brandon Smith401 Darrell Hickox359 FHPD.H. Mueller328 C.D. Woods322 S. Petty284 DOTKenneth Johnson274 Orville Thompson 98 David Lewis 97 FDACSEdward Riegal 76 G.L. Penny 37 D. Hughes 22 FWCTim Sweat 16 Tony Wright 5 DEP/BPPChris Troedson 15 Steve Vienneau 5 Carl Middleton 3

Officer Chris Troedson of Department of Environmental Protection/ Bureau of Park Police

Officer Tim Sweat of Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission

Officer Edward Riegel of Florida Department of Agriculture

Officer Jason Smith of Fernandina Beach Police Department

Officer Kenneth Johnson of Florida Department of Transportation

Trooper D. H. Mueller of Florida Highway Patrol

Traffic Unit of Nassau County Sheriffs Office