Purpose of the Challenge
 

The Florida Law Enforcement Traffic Safety Challenge recognizes Florida law enforcement agencies for their outstanding traffic safety programs. Its goal is to enhance traffic safety education and enforcement to reduce motor vehicle crashes, serious injuries, and fatalities on Florida’s roadways. The program promotes a comprehensive approach to improving community safety and complements other traffic safety training and public information programs, following the format of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) National Challenge Program and the Florida Strategic Highway Safety Plan.

Eligibility
 

Participation is open to state, county, municipal, and college/university law enforcement agencies within Florida.

Benefits of Participation
 

Participating in the Challenge helps law enforcement agencies focus on traffic safety through a comprehensive, data-driven approach. Benefits include an increased focus on traffic safety, opportunities for public recognition of exemplary programs, and documentation of your agency’s effectiveness. The Challenge also supports ongoing traffic safety initiatives and assists agencies in tracking and reporting their overall effectiveness.

Areas of Evaluation
 

Participating law enforcement agencies are scored based on the following areas, which are important to traffic safety:

• Policy & Guidelines: Implementation and adherence to traffic safety and enforcement policies.
   
• Training of Officers: Comprehensive traffic safety training for officers.
   
• Officer Recognition: Agency recognition of officers' contributions to traffic safety through education, outreach, or enforcement.
   
• LEL Program Participation: Engagement with the Florida LEL Program and participation in campaigns such as Click It or Ticket and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
   
• Public Information & Education: Efforts to educate the public about traffic safety through outreach events, social media, and media coverage.
   
• Traffic Enforcement Activity: Active enforcement of traffic laws.
   
• Traffic Safety Effectiveness: Overall effectiveness of traffic safety initiatives through measurable reductions in crashes, serious injuries, and fatalities.

How to Participate
   

Applications must be submitted through the Florida Law Enforcement Liaison Program website during the official application period and will highlight the agency's traffic safety efforts during the previous calendar year.

Agencies will be separated into the following categories:

Category 1 – 1 to 15 Officers
Category 2 – 16 to 25 Officers
Category 3 – 26 to 35 Officers
Category 4 – 36 to 50 Officers
Category 5 – 51 to 100 Officers
Category 6 – 101 to 200 Officers
Category 7 – 201 to 400 Officers
Category 8 – 400+ Officers
Category 9 – Florida Highway Patrol (I)
Category 10 – Florida Highway Patrol (II)
Category 11 – University/College Police Departments
Category 12 – Champion’s Class (1st place winners from previous year)

The top three agencies in each category will receive placement letters, a plaque, challenge coin, and lodging for the awards ceremony in Orlando. Each placing agency will be provided up to five (5) rooms for the event. A Champions Cup will be awarded to the top agency in the Champions category. A perpetual cup engraved with the winning agency’s name will be presented and retained for one year before being returned. A miniature version will be awarded for permanent display by the agency.

The 2025 awards ceremony is scheduled for July 24–25, 2025, in Orlando, Florida.

How to Submit an Application
   

The application period for the 2025 Florida Law Enforcement Traffic Safety Challenge ended on March 31, 2025. Agencies interested in applying for the next Challenge should prepare to highlight their traffic safety efforts from the 2025 calendar year. Applications will be accepted from January 1 through March 31, 2026. For guidance on preparing for your submission, please contact your District LEL.