Traffic Section
Traffic Section, commanded by Captain Herb Mier, hmier@sjso.org , is comprised of the Traffic Crash Response Unit, the Traffic Enforcement Unit, and the DUI Unit. The members of the Traffic Section work day and night to keep the citizens and visitors of St. Johns County safe as they commute along our many miles of roadways.
The Traffic Section is a specialized unit with many functions. This section investigates minor motor vehicle crashes and the more serious crashes involving serious bodily injury or death, enforces the traffic laws of the State of Florida, patrols for impaired (DUI) drivers, provides traffic control and motorcycle escorts for special events, and analyzes and addresses the citizen’s traffic related concerns throughout St. Johns County. Many of its members also serve on other specialty teams such as SWAT, the EOD Team, Mobile Field Force, and the Crisis Negotiation Team. These dedicated deputies strive hard to be the best in their field and continuously train both in and out of the classroom to stay current on the most innovative crash investigation techniques and enforcement methods.
The Traffic Section is led by Lieutenant John Donlon, jdonlon@sjso.org and each unit is supervised by a sergeant. Sergeant David Ham, dham@sjso.org , is responsible for the Traffic Crash Response Unit and the DUI Unit and Sergeant Randy Capo, rcapo@sjso.org, is responsible for the Traffic Enforcement Unit.
Although all members of this specialized section are trained in traffic crash investigation, DUI detection and apprehension, and actively enforce all the traffic laws of the State of Florida, each unit focuses on specific tasks.
The Traffic Crash Response Unit investigates motor vehicle crashes, both minor and serious, throughout St. Johns County. When the members of this unit aren’t investigating crashes, they’re actively enforcing the traffic laws of the State of Florida. They also assist in traffic control during special events and routinely patrol for impaired drivers. The Traffic Crash Response Unit is comprised of one (1) sergeant and eleven (11) deputies. The members of this unit utilize both marked patrol cars as well as unmarked patrol vehicles.
The DUI Unit is comprised of two (2) deputies who are dedicated to the detection and apprehension of impaired (DUI) drivers. These deputies work diligently every night of the week patrolling the county’s roadways in search of impaired drivers in hope that they be removed from the roadways before they can harm themselves and others or cause damage to one’s property.
The Traffic Enforcement Unit, also known as the Traffic Motor Unit, is comprised of one (1) sergeant, five (5) deputies, and one (1) aggressive driving deputy. This unit strives daily to educate the motoring public as to the dangers caused by violating the traffic laws of the State of Florida and attempts to gain the motorists voluntary compliance by conducting traffic enforcement events throughout St. Johns County. The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office has taken a proactive stance on aggressive driving by pairing up with the Florida Department of Transportation and implementing the use of an unmarked Dodge Charger to help combat the problems caused by aggressive drivers. This stealthy patrol vehicle can be found driving around the county in search of violators at various times, throughout the week. The Traffic Enforcement Unit can also be seen assisting with traffic control at special events and escorting dignitaries during their visit to our town. You may even see them performing in our Holiday Parades. These highly trained motorcyclists utilize marked police motorcycles as well as unmarked patrol vehicles in their efforts to keep citizens and visitors safe in their travels.
This section is responsible for investigating traffic problems, traffic violations, and traffic crashes, and establishes traffic programs to promote safe driving.
To find out more about the Traffic Section or to send us an email to report traffic concerns: jdonlon@sjso.org.
If you have traffic concerns, please call the Community Service hotline at (904) 810-6776.
Traffic Resources
HELP THE SJSO: Report any traffic problems or violations that you witness within the county. Click here for the form [PDF].
Involved in a crash? Move it off the roadway. Learn more here.
Child Restraint Law: Are you a parent or guardian to a baby or pre-school age child? You need to be familiar with Florida's Child Restraint Law. Click here to read the law.
Florida Safety Belt Law: Click here to learn more about this mandatory state law.
Current St. Johns County Road Construction and Traffic Interruptions: Available here.
FHP Traffic Information: Available here.
Citation Payment Information: Available here.
Drivers Crash Report: Avalible here.
Traffic News
Get the Latest DUI Checkpoint Results. Available Here.
Up to the moment FHP traffic information. Available Here.
S.T.O.P.P.E.D.
Sheriff's Telling Our Parents & Promoting Educated Drivers
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office has implemented a program specifically designed to help parents keep a hand in their children’s "behind the wheel" learning process. The “S.T.O.P.P.E.D.” program is a voluntary parental notification system that allows parents to be notified of any problems or potential problems. Parents are able to register their motor vehicles with the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.
For a more detailed program description please click here. [PDF]
Click here to download an enrollment form. Once completed, the form must be faxed or mailed into the Sheriff's office to be validated. The form requires a signature and a copy of your driver's license is also required at the time of submission.
Fax # (904) 810-3640
St. Johns County Sheriff's Office
STOPPED Program
4015 Lewis Speedway
St. Augustine, FL 32084
Traffic Enforcement Agreement Procedure
This agreement will enable the enforcement of all civil traffic violations by SJSO in privately owned and/or gated communities in St. Johns County and will also allow SJSO to hire off duty deputies to provide additional coverage.
To become a partner with the SJSO in this endeavor, you MUST download one of the following:
Download one of the Agreements below:
Agreement for District Roads
Agreement for Private Roads
Call Lt. John Donlon at (904) 209-0918 or send email to jdonlon@sjso.org and the Traffic Enforcement Commander will assign you a tracking number and/or he will mail you the appropriate packet.
You will then need to:
- Complete Exhibit ‘A’ (Property description)
- Complete Exhibit ‘C’ (Affidavit of Authority)
- Complete Exhibit ‘D’ (Proof of Liability Insurance
- Submit all above to:
County Attorney’s Office
P.O. Box 349
St. Augustine, FL 32085
- Exhibit ‘B’ (Engineering Study) Applicant must contract with a private engineering firm who will contact St Johns County Traffic Engineering (904) 209-0178 to obtain a TRAFFIC REQUIREMENTS WORKSHEET. The applicant’s engineer will work with the County Traffic Section to verify that signs, speed limits and other traffic control devices meet state requirements.
- List of Engineering Consulting firms
The completed engineering study will be reviewed/approved by the St Johns County Traffic Engineering Section and then forwarded to SJSO Traffic Enforcement.
ALL 4 EXHIBITS MUST BE COMPLETED BEFORE A TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENT CAN BE APPROVED.
The SJSO Traffic Enforcement Section will send written notice of approval or disapproval of the permit request and will maintain the original copy.