Traffic Court

IMPORTANT: Are you driving with a suspended license because of multiple fines you were unable to pay and/or court appearances you failed to keep? You may be eligible to divert your cases from going to court by participating in the DRIVE LEGAL PROGRAM, which allows you to reduce the amount of fines by performing community service, reduce points on your driving license and provides counselors to help you satisfy the requirements for license reinstatement.

Your Traffic Ticket

Essential information is contained on both sides of your traffic ticket - read it carefully to determine what type of violation you are charged with, how you can respond to the ticket, whether a court hearing is required, and what your rights are, among other things. The penalties you may receive and what you must do to resolve your traffic case vary depending on whether yours was a civil traffic infraction or criminal traffic case.

Civil Traffic Infractions

Civil traffic cases, such as non-moving violations (no seat belt or improper child restraint, etc.) and moving violations (speeding, careless driving, etc.) are usually resolved by paying a fine and/or attending traffic school. Jail is not a penalty in these cases. Points may be assessed on your driver’s record for moving violations, but can be eliminated or reduced by attending traffic school, if applicable in your case.

When you pay your traffic fine, you are admitting fault – or pleading guilty. If you feel you are not guilty of the charges, you may request a trial, which is normally heard by the Court’s Traffic Magistrates – attorneys who are appointed by the Chief Judge for this purpose. You do, however, have the right to request a trial by a judge. If you fail to pay a traffic fine within the allotted time limit, you may be referred to a collection agency for additional costs. Also, the State may suspend your license, for instance, if you have accumulated an excessive number of points on your driver’s record within a specified period of time.

See General and Civil Traffic Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for details on specific case procedures and options, fee schedules, payment procedures, traffic school information and other traffic case requirements, or call the Clerk’s Office Traffic Division at (305) 275-1111. You may also access the Clerk’s online traffic services to check your case status, pay tickets online, and more.

Improper Child Restraint: If you received a ticket for improper child restraint, you may receive a reduced fine and a “withhold of adjudication” (meaning you will not have a conviction for this offense on your record) by attending the Child Restraint Offender's Program (C.R.O.P.). See Traffic School FAQs for more information on this course, which is offered by Miami Children's Hospital. You may also call the hospital at (305) 663-6865 for important scheduling and registration information.

Criminal Traffic Cases:

Criminal traffic cases [Driving While Under the Influence (DUI); Driving While License Suspended (DWLS), reckless driving, etc.] are more serious than civil infractions and require a court hearing. Penalties may include jail time, but most sentences in criminal traffic matters involve the payment of fines and court costs. The completion of a rehabilitative program and/or traffic school program may also be required. Also, suspension of your license is a possibility, depending on the violation and/or the number of points on your driver’s record during a given period of time.
.
You will receive a notice in the mail listing the time, date and court location of your hearing. If you fail to appear in court, a bench warrant will be issued and that could lead to your arrest. See General and Criminal Traffic Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for specific details on your options in criminal traffic cases, as well as procedures, fee schedules, payment, license suspension/reinstatement and traffic school information, or call the Clerk’s Office Traffic Division at (305) 275-1111. You may also access the Clerk’s online traffic services, where you can check your case status, pay tickets online (if that is an option in your case), and find more information.

Florida’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles also offers a number of convenient online services. You may process your annual vehicle registration, renew your license, check your driving record and license information, and verify your reinstatement status online. The agency serves as a valuable resource for first-time drivers and Florida’s senior, handicapped and immigrant population, as well as out-of-state drivers seeking to obtain a Florida license.