Daley, Polsky Propose Moving Florida Highway Patrol Under FDLE to Streamline Law Enforcement

January 8, 2026 • By Sharon Aron Baron
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Daley, Polsky Propose Moving Florida Highway Patrol Under FDLE to Streamline Law Enforcement

State Rep Dan Daley and State Sen Tina Polsky.

State Rep. Dan Daley and Sen. Tina Polsky have filed legislation aimed at reorganizing Florida’s transportation law enforcement by moving the Florida Highway Patrol and the Office of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement under the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

House Bill 1199 and Senate Bill 1450 would transfer all powers, duties, personnel, and resources associated with the Division of the Florida Highway Patrol and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement from the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to FDLE. The proposal consolidates statewide law enforcement operations while preserving the Highway Patrol’s mission, authority, and identity.

The legislation also updates Florida statutes to ensure continuity in traffic enforcement, emergency response, training, license renewal, and public safety operations. Additionally, it would require the executive director of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.

“Floridians deserve a government that works, not excuses,” Daley said. “The Division of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is supposed to do two basic things: provide efficient licensing services and ensure public safety through its oversight of the Florida Highway Patrol. Right now, it is failing at both.

He added that despite shifting much of the licensing process to county tax collectors, wait times remain unacceptable while agency leadership continues to claim success that simply isn’t reflected on the ground. This bill restores accountability by requiring Senate confirmation of the Division Director and strengthens public safety by moving the Florida Highway Patrol under the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, where law enforcement oversight, training, and accountability belong. When performance doesn’t match reality, oversight isn’t political—it’s imperative.

Polsky said the proposal is intended to modernize Florida’s public safety framework. “Florida’s law enforcement structure should be organized around public safety and services, not outdated bureaucracy,” she said. “By moving the Highway Patrol and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement to FDLE, we are strengthening coordination, improving accountability, and ensuring critical public safety and licensing functions are led by experienced law enforcement professionals.”

If approved by the Legislature, the bills would consolidate transportation-related law enforcement within FDLE while maintaining the Florida Highway Patrol’s statewide role in traffic safety and emergency response.

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Sharon Aron Baron

Sharon Aron Baron
Editor of Talk Media and writer for Coral Springs Talk. CST was created in 2012 to provide News, Views, and Entertainment for the residents of Coral Springs and the rest of South Florida.

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