The Florida Highway Patrol phone number depends on why you’re calling. From a cell phone, dial *FHP (*347) to reach the nearest FHP regional communication center for anything happening on the road: crashes, impaired drivers, debris, stranded vehicles. For non-emergency matters like complaints, commendations, or general questions, call FHP headquarters in Tallahassee at (850) 617-2300. Both lines are staffed around the clock.
The *FHP (*347) Cell Phone Shortcut
Dialing *FHP, which is *347 on the keypad, routes your call through the cell tower handling your signal to the closest FHP regional communication center. The call is free; participating Florida cellular carriers absorb the cost.1Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Star FHP Use it to report drunk drivers, crashes, stranded motorists, road debris, or anything else threatening safety on Florida’s highways and interstates.
Two limitations to know about. If your carrier does not support the shortcut, or if you’re calling from a landline, *347 will not connect. In that case, call the regional communication center for the area you’re traveling through directly. Those numbers are published on the FLHSMV contact page.2Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Contact FHP
When To Call *FHP and When To Call 911
*FHP is built for highway situations. Aggressive or impaired drivers, crashes you witness, disabled vehicles blocking lanes, objects in the road. FHP dispatchers coordinate trooper response and can pull in EMS or fire rescue when the call warrants it.
Call 911 when someone is in immediate physical danger or seriously injured. The 911 system routes to your local county dispatch, which can send the closest ambulance or fire unit regardless of jurisdiction. If you’re not sure which line fits, 911 is the safer choice. Dispatchers there will transfer you to FHP if the situation calls for it.
FHP Headquarters and Other Administrative Numbers
FHP general headquarters sits in the Neil Kirkman Building at 2900 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, FL 32399. The main line is (850) 617-2300.3Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. FHP Station Locations Use it for general inquiries, complaints, commendations, or anything that doesn’t fit the emergency or records categories.
A few other Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles numbers people commonly need:
- Crash Records: (850) 617-3416, option 1, for copies of crash reports and public records requests for crash data.4Florida Department of Transportation. Requesting Public Crash Records and Data in Florida
- CDL Help Desk: (850) 617-2606, for commercial driver’s license questions.
- Commercial Carrier IFTA/IRP Help Desk: (850) 617-3711, for fuel tax and registration inquiries.
Reaching a Specific Troop or Station
FHP divides the state into 12 troops, each covering a defined multi-county area, and operates seven regional communication centers that dispatch for those troops.5Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Troop Boundaries and Information Troop A covers the western Panhandle. Troop L covers the southern tip of the state, including Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. When you dial *347, the system routes you automatically, so you don’t need to know your troop letter to get help.
Direct station numbers matter when you’re following up rather than reporting live. If you need to retrieve property, ask about a specific incident, or speak with a supervisor about an encounter with a trooper in a particular area, the FLHSMV website publishes a directory of station addresses and phone numbers organized by troop letter.
Road Rangers Use the Same *347 Line
Florida’s Road Ranger Service Patrol is a free roadside assistance program run by the Florida Department of Transportation, and it shares the *347 shortcut.6Florida Department of Transportation. Road Ranger Rangers aren’t law enforcement, but they work alongside FHP to keep traffic moving. What they’ll do:
- Change a flat tire if you have a spare.
- Jump-start a dead battery and handle minor electrical fixes.
- Provide a small supply of gasoline, diesel, or water to get you to the next exit.
- Clear debris from travel lanes.
- Make up to two free local phone calls for stranded motorists.
Rangers patrol specific highway corridors during designated hours, so coverage isn’t statewide or around the clock. If a Ranger can’t reach you, FHP dispatch can still coordinate a tow.
What To Tell the Dispatcher
Location comes first. On interstates and major state roads, look for the small green mile marker signs along the right shoulder. They appear roughly every mile. Give the dispatcher your mile marker, direction of travel, and highway name, and they can pinpoint you fast. If no mile marker is visible, use the last exit you passed or a nearby landmark.
After location, dispatchers typically want:
- What happened: a crash, a reckless driver, a disabled vehicle, debris in the road.
- Vehicle descriptions: make, model, color, and license plate if you can safely read it.
- Number of people involved, and whether anyone appears injured.
- Direction of travel and which lane.
If the call is about a crash you were in, Florida law requires you to share your name, address, registration number, and driver’s license with the other driver and with any officer who responds.7Online Sunshine. Florida Statutes 316.062 – Duty to Give Information and Render Aid You’re also required to provide reasonable help to anyone who is injured, including arranging transportation to a hospital if treatment appears necessary.
Getting a Crash Report After the Fact
If a trooper responded, they file the official report. When a crash involves only property damage and no officer responds, you have 10 days to submit a written report to FLHSMV yourself.8Florida Senate. Florida Statutes 316.066 – Written Reports of Crashes The clock starts on the date of the crash. Missing the deadline is a non-moving traffic violation.
To get a copy of a report already filed by law enforcement, use the Florida Crash Portal at FloridaCrashPortal.gov. Each report is $10.00 plus a $2.00 convenience fee per transaction, and downloads must happen within 48 hours of purchase.9Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Buy Florida Crash Reports Law enforcement has up to 10 days to submit reports, so a very recent crash may not appear in the portal yet. You can also request crash records by phone at (850) 617-3416, option 1, or by emailing CrashRecords@flhsmv.gov.4Florida Department of Transportation. Requesting Public Crash Records and Data in Florida
Reports pulled from the portal within the first 60 days after a crash are limited to parties directly involved and others with a qualifying reason. After 60 days, access opens to anyone with a permissible use under the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act.9Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Buy Florida Crash Reports