By Jason Diamond, Traffic Ticket Attorney
Founder, The Traffic Ticket Team

If you’ve ever felt like Florida’s highways have eyes on every mile, you’re not entirely wrong. While speeding enforcement exists across all 67 counties in Florida, data shows that some counties are far more aggressive when it comes to issuing speeding tickets. Whether you’re a local resident or just passing through the Sunshine State, knowing where you’re most likely to be pulled over can make a significant difference in how you drive—and whether you’ll need to contact a traffic ticket lawyer.

As the founder of The Traffic Ticket Team, and a practicing traffic ticket attorney with over two decades of experience, I’ve represented drivers in nearly every courtroom across the state. We’ve handled more than 2,000,000 traffic citations, and year after year, the trends remain consistent: certain counties are notorious for issuing an outsized share of speeding tickets.

In this essay, we’ll examine Florida’s top five counties for speeding tickets, explore why enforcement is higher in those areas, and discuss what you should do if you find yourself on the receiving end of a citation.

Florida’s Five Most Ticket-Happy Counties

The counties listed below consistently rank among the highest in the state for the number of speeding tickets issued per capita. These numbers are based on public records, state court data, and traffic enforcement reports.

Duval County (Jacksonville)

Duval County holds the distinction of being Florida’s top county for speeding tickets. Last year, roughly 1 in every 22 drivers received a speeding citation in Duval. That’s an extraordinarily high ratio compared to the state average—and nearly 50% more likely than in other major counties like Broward.

Why the high enforcement?

  • Interstate coverage: Duval County is crisscrossed by I-95, I-10, and several busy U.S. highways.
  • Heavy traffic volume: Jacksonville is Florida’s largest city by land area and a major commercial corridor.
  • Zero-tolerance zones: Law enforcement often targets areas near school zones, construction zones, and bridge crossings—where speeds tend to spike.

Drivers in Duval County should treat posted speed limits as hard boundaries. If you’re even 10 mph over, especially in high-enforcement corridors, you may find flashing lights in your rearview mirror.

Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County, with its sprawling suburbs and long stretches of highway, comes in second. Many drivers underestimate the aggressive enforcement here, but Palm Beach law enforcement agencies are among the most ticket-prone in the state.

What makes Palm Beach particularly risky?

  • Aggressive highway patrol on I-95 and the Florida Turnpike
  • Local law enforcement units trained with specialized radar and LIDAR systems
  • Municipal quotas: While controversial, some departments prioritize traffic enforcement for funding and safety purposes

Palm Beach also leads the state in high fine revenue per ticket, meaning tickets here aren’t just frequent—they’re expensive.

Orange County (Orlando)

Orange County is the beating heart of Central Florida and home to Orlando, one of the most visited cities in the world. With major theme parks like Disney World and Universal Studios attracting millions of drivers annually, local and state law enforcement ramp up their presence accordingly.

Key characteristics of enforcement in Orange County:

  • Tourist-targeted zones: Drivers unfamiliar with local limits are easy targets for radar.
  • Speed traps on surface roads: Unlike other counties, you’ll see a significant number of tickets issued on arterial roads—not just highways.
  • Frequent “speeding blitzes”: These are concentrated efforts over weekends or holidays to catch as many speeders as possible in a short timeframe.

Orange County authorities are particularly strict in areas near attractions, school zones, and toll roads—where violations can quickly become expensive or criminal.

Miami-Dade County

Miami-Dade is known for its high-speed culture—and the enforcement reflects that. While speeding tickets per capita aren’t as high as in Duval or Palm Beach, the total volume of citations is massive simply due to population and road density.

Unique aspects of speeding enforcement in Miami-Dade:

  • Undercover patrol vehicles: Officers use a wide array of unmarked vehicles, especially on expressways.
  • Multi-lane surveillance: Patrols focus on drivers weaving in and out of traffic at high speeds.
  • Aggressive ticketing of out-of-state drivers and rental cars: Tourists are often unaware of local speed limits and receive citations without even realizing the infraction.

Although drivers may feel they’re just keeping up with traffic on I-95 or the Palmetto Expressway, enforcement officers won’t hesitate to single out individuals exceeding limits—even by modest amounts.

Broward County

While Broward County ranks fifth on this list, its numbers are still significant. One in every 33 drivers in Broward received a speeding citation last year—less than Duval but still far above average. Fort Lauderdale’s growing congestion, combined with long stretches of multi-lane highway, makes this a prime area for automated and manual enforcement.

Factors contributing to Broward’s ranking:

  • Speed detection cameras in certain cities (used in conjunction with manual enforcement)
  • Local police saturation during peak hours
  • Construction zones on I-595 and I-75 with reduced limits—and increased fines

If you’re in Broward County, especially during rush hour or late at night, you should assume that any violation is likely to be caught.

Why Certain Counties Enforce Speeding More Aggressively

While it’s easy to assume that enforcement levels are random or based on police preferences, there are actually several factors that drive higher ticketing rates in specific Florida counties:

  1. Revenue Generation: Speeding tickets often serve as a reliable stream of income for county and municipal budgets.
  2. Public Safety Initiatives: Areas with high crash rates or pedestrian injuries tend to enforce speeding more stringently.
  3. Tourist Exposure: Counties with large numbers of non-resident drivers (like Orange or Miami-Dade) see more violations—and more citations.
  4. Grant-Funded Programs: Some departments receive federal or state grants tied to traffic enforcement performance.
  5. Data-Driven Enforcement: Officers now use predictive analytics to identify high-risk areas and times, increasing enforcement efficiency.

What to Do If You Get a Speeding Ticket in Florida

If you receive a speeding citation in any Florida county, the first and most important rule is don’t panic—and don’t just pay the ticket. Many drivers make the mistake of paying their fine online without realizing the hidden consequences:

  • Admission of guilt
  • Points on your driving record
  • Increased insurance premiums for up to three years
  • Potential license suspension if you have prior infractions

Instead, take the following steps:

  1. Document everything: Note where, when, and how the citation was issued.
  2. Contact a traffic ticket attorney: A qualified legal team can assess the ticket for errors, identify defenses, and possibly have it dismissed or reduced.
  3. Send a copy of your ticket to The Traffic Ticket Team for a free case review.

At The Traffic Ticket Team, we’ve helped thousands of Florida drivers avoid points, lower fines, and in many cases, get the ticket thrown out entirely.

Conclusion: Knowledge is Your Best Defense

Navigating Florida’s roadways requires more than just a reliable vehicle and GPS. It demands an understanding of how, where, and why enforcement happens. Whether you’re a daily commuter, a rideshare driver, or a family heading to Disney, the counties listed above are places where one small lapse in attention can cost you big.

As a traffic ticket lawyer and founder of The Traffic Ticket Team, my advice is simple:

Drive smart. Stay alert. Know the counties. And if you get a ticket, don’t go it alone.

FREE CONSULTATION
866-433-3363
Call now or contact us for a fast, free, no obligation consultation.

Fight that Ticket!

  • 2,000,000+ Cases Resolved
  • 99% Success Rate

  • Free Consultation

  • Cases from $29

Recent Posts