JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Much of a police traffic stop happens long before drivers spot those blue lights flashing in their rearview mirrors.
That’s what I learned when News4JAX photojournalist Jesse Hanson and I recently rode along with Officer Timothy Prince, a Traffic Patrol Officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Prince, a 12-year JSO veteran and former detective, gave us a behind-the-scenes look at how police target problem areas on the roads to try to prevent serious crashes.
As he drove us, Prince pointed out common behaviors that he says lead to wrecks — including speeding, following too closely and distracted driving. He said his focus is on corridors with high rates of fatal crashes.
During the ride-along, Prince clocked multiple drivers going well above a posted 35 mph speed limit. But not everyone went home with a citation.
One driver received a warning after Prince said the man was upfront about what happened. Prince said that when he can, he prefers to emphasize education over punishment.
A later stop involved a driver going 23 mph over the speed limit on a two-lane road. It turned out that the driver had never been licensed — a misdemeanor in Florida — and also had other issues tied to documentation and insurance records, Prince said.
Prince issued the driver a citation rather than making an arrest, explaining that the case would be handled through the court system.
During both traffic stops for speeders, Jesse and I watched three cars fly past Prince as he was standing by the road. Those drivers all broke the Move Over Law, putting Prince’s life in danger, something he acknowledged happens every day.
The ride-along ended at a crash scene, where Prince navigated heavy traffic with quick thinking to reach first responders. He stressed a key safety rule: move over to the right and clear the way when you see emergency lights.
Prince’s takeaways for drivers were simple: slow down, stay alert and avoid distractions.
He also urged drivers to keep the left lane open for passing, saying slow traffic there can trigger a domino effect that escalates into aggressive driving and road rage.
Oh, and despite a long-running belief among many in the community, Prince said officers do not face pressure to write more tickets near the end of the month. He said quotas like that are against the law.