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Traffic Ticket and Elect School Options

If You Are Charged

You Must Choose an Option Within 30 Days

If you are charged with a civil infraction, the Clerk must receive notification of your choice of one of the options listed below WITHIN THIRTY (30) straight CALENDAR days from the date of the citation. Failure to comply within 30 days could result in additional late fees and a suspension of your driving privileges.

POSTMARK DATE WILL NOT BE HONORED!

You can get specific information regarding your case by using our automated telephone system 24 hours a day by calling 407-836-6000.

OPTION 1:

Pay the Civil Penalty as Stated on Citation

Electing this option, you will pay the civil penalty as stated on the back of your citation. You can also look at the Traffic Fine Chart to find the amount due.

When you elect to pay the civil penalty as stated on your citation:

Your case will be satisfied upon payment.
The charge will be entered on your driving record as a conviction.
POINTS WILL BE ASSESSED AS APPLICABLE.
Please note: if you select this option you will not be allowed to elect the school option later.

Correction Defect

If charged with F.S. 316.610, operating a motor vehicle in an unsafe condition or not properly equipped as required in F.S. 316.610, or F.S. 316.2935, non-criminal violation, you may, WITHIN THIRTY (30) straight CALENDAR days from the date the citation was issued, have the defect corrected, pay a $4.00 fee to the local police or sheriff’s office and have the CORRECTION CERTIFIED ON AN AFFIDAVIT OF COMPLIANCE BY THE POLICE OR SHERIFF’S OFFICE. YOU MUST MAIL OR PRESENT THE AFFIDAVIT OF COMPLIANCE, TOGETHER WITH A $66.00 FEE TO THE CLERK OF THE COURT WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS OF THE DATE THE CITATION WAS ISSUED. NO POINTS WILL BE ASSESSED.

Exception: F.S. 316.610

NOTE: This option shall not apply to violations of F.S. 316.610 by a commercial motor vehicle or transit bus owned by a government entity.

Additional Documentation Required

On tag, registration, driver’s license and insurance violations, you must provide a copy of the valid item along with payment. If the item was valid at the time the citation was issued, the citation can be dismissed with a $10.00 fee. If they were not valid at the time of the citation, you will owe the statutory penalty as stated on the back of your citation along with a copy of the now valid item.

Remember you must make your election within 30 straight calendar days to avoid additional late fees and possible suspension of your driving privileges.

OPTION 2:

Plead Not Guilty

When You Elect to Plead Not Guilty

You must either appear at the court listed on the front of your citation.
Or you can send a Not Guilty Plea requesting a court date. You will be scheduled a future date to appear. No court dates will be set by telephone.
If you know you will be unable to appear for the scheduled court date in person, you can file an Affidavit of Defense and post a civil bond in lieu of your appearance in court.
You must file a Not Guilty Plea.

Bond Amounts for Moving and Non-Moving Violations

If you were charged with a moving violation, the civil bond would be $100.00.
If you received a non-moving violation, the civil bond would be $75.00.

Remember, we must receive your request for a court date within 30 straight calendar days to avoid additional late fees and possible suspension of your driving privilege.

PLEASE NOTE: In order to cancel your hearing, you must pay a $15.00 cancellation fee along with the civil penalty or school cost depending on your option at least 24 hours prior to the hearing if in person or 7 days prior if by mail.

OPTION 3:

Elect to Attend Traffic School

Election to attend traffic school

Florida law allows that you may elect this option once in a 12-month period, and no more than 5 times in your lifetime.

MANY TRAFFIC SCHOOLS OFFER CLASSES ONLINE! Ask your traffic school for further information. (Traffic schools can be found in the Yellow Pages under the topic "Driving Instruction"). You may also go to http://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/drivingcourses.html for additional information on classes

Adjudication will be withheld on your driving record.
POINTS WILL NOT BE ASSESSED.
To elect the school option you will need to pay the appropriate cost to the clerk. This amount differs from the payment amount for Option 1, Payment of Civil Penalty as Stated on the Citation. Please refer to the fine chart to find the appropriate penalty.
Upon payment, your case will be updated for 90 straight calendar days, not 3 months. Within the 90 days, you will need to contact a school of your choice (schools are listed in the yellow pages under driver instructions), complete the 4 hour course and return your completion form to the clerk’s office. Some schools electronically file their completions with the clerks. If they have notified you of this, you can call our automated telephone system after a week has passed from completion of your course, to verify that your completion was filed.
Failure to complete the school and return proof within 90 straight calendar days of the date you made your election could result in suspension of your privileges, points being assessed, and assessment of additional penalties and late ees.

Remember, you must elect the school option with the clerks within 30 straight calendar days to avoid late fees and possible suspension of your driving privilege.

When Election of This Option is Restricted

This option is not available for driver’s license, tag or registration violations, or commercial motor vehicle violations of F.S. 322.62.
Anyone who does not hold a commercial Driver's license may elect traffic school.

OPTION 4:

Enter a Plea of Nolo Contendere

If you were charged with violation of F.S. 322.065, 320.07(3)(a), 322.15(1), 320.0605(1), 316.646(1), or 322.34(1) which is suspended for failure to appear, failure to pay or failure to attend a driver improvement school pursuant to F.S. 322.291, you may, in lieu of payment of the statutory fine or court appearance, elect to enter a plea of nolo contendere.

To enter a plea of nolo contendere, you must:

Sign an Affidavit for Option 4 (Plea of Nolo Contendere). You must have your Affidavit notarized and mailed in with your payment and a copy of the now- valid item. The cost for this option is as follows: for driver’s license, tag, or registration the total court cost are $52.10. The court cost on an insurance violation is $34.35.
You must also provide a valid driver’s license, tag or registration or proper proof of insurance to the Clerk of Court based on your violation.
You must pay court costs.
You must NOT HAVE made the election to plead nolo contendere within the last twelve months.
You must NOT HAVE previously pleaded nolo contendere under this provision three times in your life (F.S. 318.1410)(a).

When a plea of nolo contendere is accepted, adjudication shall be withheld by the Clerk.

Remember you must make your election within 30 straight calendar days to avoid additional late fees and possible suspension of your driving privileges.