The Gainesville Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization (MTPO) selected an interim executive director and discussed hiring a search firm to assist with a new search during its Tuesday meeting.
At the Aug. 20 meeting, the sheriff’s office also gave an update on traffic citation numbers.
The MTPO is currently in flux, moving to in-house leadership instead of a contracted position and jumping to a higher classification. After a search with a lone finalist arriving for interviews, Gainesville Commissioner Bryan Eastman, who headed the search subcommittee, said the contract negotiations fell through.
The MTPO board voted to make Alison Moss, Alachua County’s transportation planning manager, the interim executive director until the second search finishes.
The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) also briefed the board on traffic stops across the county and specifically within the smaller municipalities covered by the office.
According to the report, ACSO issued 7,924 citations and 5,192 written warnings in 2024. Of those, around 1,500 citations were given within the smaller municipalities (Newberry, Hawthorne, Waldo, Micanopy, Archer, La Crosse) versus the unincorporated areas of the county.
So far in 2025, the office has issued 4,326 citations and 3,566 written warnings.
ACSO citations issued in municipalities from 2024 and 2025:
- Archer (221 in 2024; 129 so far in 2025)
- Hawthorne (500 in 2024; 111 so far in 2025)
- La Crosse (4 in 2024; 5 so far in 2025)
- Micanopy (149 in 2024; 94 so far in 2025)
- Newberry (318 in 2024; 162 so far in 2025)
- Waldo (364 in 2024; 116 so far in 2025)
ACSO said 10% of citations were for speeding, and the remaining citations varied within a long list of possible offences.
Alachua County Commissioner Anna Prizzia asked about speeding enforcement in school zones, and ACSO said a lot of the enforcement is complaint-driven at the moment. The office only has three officers in its traffic unit, with a goal of increasing it to five officers.
These officers cover the entire county and pick certain days to enforce in smaller municipalities, plus the unincorporated areas.
The Gainesville Police Department reports 7,072 traffic citations from 2024, along with 4,094 traffic warnings. So far in 2025, the department has issued 4,242 traffic citations and 2,223 traffic warnings.
Experiencing the dialogue between Tina Certain and Sarah Rockwell was a masterclass in “blue playbook” deflection—an artful dodge from the deeper, unresolved issues.
School Board:
Audience members were subtly encouraged to arrive early, ensuring seats were filled by loyal supporters. The usual cadre of verbally aggressive “social influencers” were strategically placed, primed to perform their roles. What unfolded resembled a choreographed production: a protective shield for Sarah Rockwell and a warning shot to any dissenters who might challenge the progressive liberal stronghold on this County’s political terrain.
But they did not anticipate the arrival of a determined citizen—a working man with grit and conviction—who stood tall, declared “No, this is wrong,” and refused to be silenced.
Let us not forget the plumber. He was the catalyst who helped unclog the septic backup that has long plagued Alachua County Government. Thanks to his courage, the system may finally begin to flow with integrity.
What in the world does this comment have to do with this item: “Gainesville metro board selects interim director, updated on traffic citations”????? It must be a bicycle ’cause a vest has no sleeves…
Another waste of money by a Gainesville City Commissioner, now hiring a third party to do an employee search – exactly HOW DOES THE CITY NOT HAVE A MECHANISM FOR THIS? You’d think Gainesville wasn’t HOME OF THE LARGEST UNIVERSITY IN FLORIDA, WITH NETWORKS IN ALMOST EVERY FIELD.
Another case of too many chiefs, not enough indians.
Only 3 officers in the traffic unit? What’s the rest of them doing? Ever been to the ASO offices or around the courthouses? Seems they’re protecting their desks and serving courtrooms more than they are school zones.
Want to cut costs? If they’re not working the roads, stop funding their vehicles. It shouldn’t be when there’s a shooting they somehow magically appear en masse.