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ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE GENERAL ORDER Effective Date: September 13, 2023  Amends - GO 15.1.5 ( March 2, 2022 ) Number: 15.1.5 Distribution: All Personnel Review Month: February Reviewing Authority: SOD / Traffic Subject: Traffic Records This order consists of the following: 1. Purpose 2. Policy 3. Procedures 1. Purpose The purpose of this policy is to confirm the proper issuance and accountability of all Traffic/Boating/DUI/Parking Citations for the Orange County Sheriff's Office. 2. Policy The agency adheres to the legal requirements of FS 316.650 which mandates the procedures for storing, issuing, accounting for and cross referencing of Uniform Traffic Citations. The control of issuance and accountability of Traffic/Boating/DUI/Parking citations will be the responsibility of the Traffic Section. 3. Procedures A. Storing Uniform Traffic Citations The State of Florida issues Uniform Traffic Citations to the agency. The Uniform Traffic Citation Coordinator, assigned to the Traffic Section, shall maintain a six (6) month supply of citations at the Traffic Section Office. B. Issuing Uniform Traffic/Boating Citations The Uniform Traffic Citation Coordinator, or designee, shall issue Uniform Traffic Citations to each sworn employee as needed. Each employee shall sign a log and a receipt for each book of Uniform Traffic Citations, DUI Uniform Traffic Citations, Boating Citations, Courtesy Notices, and Parking Citations issued. C. Accountability of Uniform Traffic Citations Each Traffic/Boating/DUI /Parking Citation has an individual number assigned to it. Accountability for issued cita tions is the responsibility of each employee . Except for the employee’s copy and the violator’s copy, all copies of each citation will be returned to the Uniform Traffic Citation Coordinator, Traffic Section within five (5) working days of the citation be ing issued. D. All written citations (non -arrest) are required in traffic court within five (5) days via the Uniform Traffic Citation Coordinator. E. All Uniform Traffic Citations will be cross referenced in the appropriate automated file by employee name and citation number. 15.1.5, Page 2 of 3 F. The storing, issuing, accountability and cross referencing of DUI ticket books is the same as for Uniform Traffic Citations. G. It is unlawful and official misconduct for any traffic enforcement officer or other officer or pu blic employee to dispose of any Traffic/ Boating/DUI /Parking citation s or copies. H. Citations placed into evidence are the responsibility of the deputy to whom they are issued/assigned to. Once citations are released from evidence they must be voided (all copies attached) and returned to the Uniform Traffic Citation Coordinator within fi ve (5) days of being voided. I. The Uniform Traffic Citation Coordinator shall conduct quarterly audits of the traffic records for quality control purposes. The Traffic Section Commander shall forward a memorandum summarizing the results of the audit and other pertinent details, along with a copy of the audit, to Accreditation. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles also conducts periodic audits. J. Voided Traffic/Boating /DUI/Parking Citations will be returned to the Uniform Traffic Citati on Coordinator, Traffic Section with all copies attached. A memorandum to the Traffic Section Commander, via chain of command, explaining the reason for the voided citation will be attached with each voided citation. Voided citations will be returned to the Traffic Citation Coordinator within five (5) working days of being voided. The disposition of voided citations will be handled by the Uniform Traffic Citation Coordinator as follows, based on administrative guidelines and rules: 1. Uniform Traffic and DUI citations will be returned to the State of Florida, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV). 2. Orange County Parking citations will be returned to the Orange County Comptroller’s Office, Department of Finance and Accounting. K. All lost or stolen Traffic/Boating/DUI/Parking Citations will be documented via email to the Uniform Traffic Citation Coordinator at TrafficCitationCoordinator@ocsofl.com , with cc copies to the c hain of command thru the employees Captain. Tra ffic Section personnel shall, complete and forward the State transmittal form for auditing purposes. L. The pink/officers copy of the Uniform Traffic and DUI citation will be retained by the issuing deputy f or a minimum of six (6) months or until the case is disposed by the court. M. When a computer printed citation is issued, only one copy is submitted for processing to the court. The citation will be electronically submitted to the agency via computer. A ll other procedures relating to the issuance, dissemination or handling of the citations remain the same. 15.1.5, Page 3 of 3 N. Use of Traffic and Criminal Software (TraCS®) for traffic citations. When a TraCS® citation is issued, a printed copy will be issued to the violat or. The citation will be electronically submitted to the Clerk of the Courts via TraCS®. All criminal / mandat ory appearance citations will have a copy printed out for the violator and a copy for the Uniform Traffic Citation Coordinator with the violator’s signature and fingerprint. All computer issued citation numbers will be electronically created at time of issuance via TraCS®. All voided