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Scott Slams Idea Of Ticket-Quotas For FHP

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami) - Governor Rick Scott blasted the Florida Highway Patrol Friday after media reports raised questions about the possibility that bonuses for troopers were tied to how many tickets they write, according to the News Service of Florida.

Scott issued a statement Friday that read in part: "The idea that FHP would tie officer bonuses to the number of tickets they write is absolutely outrageous and wrong. All state worker bonuses should be based on better - not worse - outcomes for the people of Florida who pay taxes to fund state government."

The original report from the Tallahassee Democrat online said the Florida Police Benevolent Association was concerned the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, which runs FHP, would link trooper bonuses to "public contacts."

The "public contacts" mentioned included traffic stops, traffic citations, written warnings, and arrests.

The department has said traffic-citation quotas would not be put in place, but Scott's statement Friday appeared to completely close the door.

"Floridians paying more in tickets is not a better outcome. Period. If this idea comes across my desk, I will reject it," Scott said.

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