Florida Highway Patrol Disproportionately Stops and Punishes Latino Drivers

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A new analysis of Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) data has found significant racial disparities in how the agency treats Latino and white drivers across the state. In some rural and suburban counties, Latino drivers were more than twice as likely to be ticketed or arrested for minor, non-moving traffic offenses compared to white drivers. The starkest inequality was in Calhoun County, where FHP was over 2 times more likely to penalize Latino drivers. The second-highest disparity was in Glades County, with troopers charging Latino drivers 83% more often than white drivers for the same offenses. Conversely, in Miami-Dade County, Latino drivers were 13% less likely than white drivers to be charged. Experts say bias is often concentrated among a minority of officers, and FHP has a history of misclassifying some Latino drivers as 'white' or 'other' in its data.

Why it matters

These findings raise serious concerns about racial profiling and discrimination within the Florida Highway Patrol, an agency that has been granted expanded immigration enforcement powers in recent years. The disparities uncovered could violate civil rights laws and undermine public trust in law enforcement, especially in communities with large Latino populations. The data suggests systemic issues that require further investigation and reforms to address bias and ensure fair and equitable treatment for all drivers.

The details

The analysis by TCPalm found that nearly all FHP troopers are now classified as 'designated immigration officers,' allowing them to stop, search and question individuals based on immigration status. This comes after FHP signed a 287(g) agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2025, reviving a task force model that was disbanded in 2012 after the Department of Justice found it led to widespread racial profiling. The data shows these expanded powers were given to an agency that already disproportionately penalizes Latino drivers for minor, non-moving traffic offenses.

• FHP signed a 287(g) agreement with ICE in 2025.
• TCPalm's analysis covered traffic stops from 2018-2025.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The findings from this analysis are likely to prompt further scrutiny and investigation into FHP's practices and policies around traffic stops and enforcement, especially in counties with the highest racial disparities. Civil rights groups and community organizations may push for reforms to address bias and ensure fair and equitable treatment for all drivers.