Learn about the responsibilities of the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE).
The Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) has certified law enforcement positions in Uniform Services, Investigative Services, Special Operations and Administrative Services.
When it comes to protecting Florida agriculture, the Bureau of Uniform Services is the first line of defense at the state's borders. We operate 23 agricultural interdiction stations on 19 highways going into and out of Florida. Our 24th station, located on U.S. Highway 231 near the Florida-Alabama border, is currently under construction and anticipated to be operational in early 2027. The bureau has over 200 sworn employees who support and supplement the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' (FDACS) regulatory and law enforcement programs by inspecting highway shipments of agricultural, horticultural, aquaculture and livestock commodities. Our efforts help to ensure the public of a safe, quality food supply and to prevent, control and eradicate plant and animal pests and diseases that could impact Florida’s $200 billion agricultural industry.
State law provides our officers with Administrative Search Authority, which is the ability to conduct regulatory inspections without obtaining traditional probable cause.
Section 570.15, Florida Statutes, makes it unlawful for the driver of any vehicle, other than those specifically exempted by the statute, to pass by any agricultural interdiction station. Unlawfully passing an interdiction station is a second-degree misdemeanor, and violators can be stopped by any law enforcement agency in the state upon our notification.
The Bureau of Investigative Services enforces laws governing a broad range of businesses regulated by FDACS, including motor fuel dealers and charitable organizations, and investigates organized retail fraud targeting commercial enterprises. The bureau is dedicated to protecting consumers from unfair and deceptive trade practices, preserving the integrity of Florida's agriculture industry and safeguarding the wholesomeness of food and other consumer products.
The Bureau of Investigative Services investigates crimes involving agriculture, including those involving farms, farm equipment, pesticides, fertilizers, livestock, poultry, horticulture, aquaculture and citrus products. We also investigate violations occurring on property owned or operated by FDACS. The bureau's Conservation and Recreational Land (CARL) Investigators are responsible for responding to calls for service on state forests, recreational lands and waterways while conducting criminal and regulatory investigations and enforcing laws.
The bureau develops cooperative partnerships with all local, state and federal agencies. Maintaining stakeholder partnerships allows OALE to provide investigative assistance in areas over which FDACS has jurisdiction and to aggressively pursue criminal complaints to prevent future acts of criminality.
OALE’s Special Operations Section includes specialized units such as Emergency Response, Canine (K9) Unit, Training, and the RAPISCAN program. Sworn members of the Emergency Response Unit respond to emergency situations including natural disasters, civil disturbances and other unusual occurrences under the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Florida Mutual Aid Plan. Members of the K9 unit are assigned to multiple areas between the northeast and northwest part of the state and assist with narcotics detection, tracking suspects, and search and rescue operations. The Training Section is comprised of sworn law enforcement instructors who conduct classroom and hands-on instruction for the agency’s certified law enforcement positions. In 2026, the agency initiated the use of RAPISCAN trucks to support its TITAN program. These vehicles and their certified operators allow for non-intrusive inspection capability to support interdiction and enforcement operations involving commercial vehicles, cargo and conveyances.
Certified law enforcement positions in this section are comprised of OALE leadership who help oversee both sworn and civilian employees. This section manages important administrative functions including budget, finance and grants, accreditation, policy and procedure, hiring and personnel, unform issuance, fleet and property, recruitment, strategic planning, and wellness programs. The section also includes sworn investigators responsible for conducting agency pre-employment background investigations.
