Civil Traffic Citations

Civil Traffic Citations Under Florida statutes, a civil infraction is a case in which a person is suspected of committing a non-criminal traffic infraction. These violations are classified as either moving or non-moving. A moving violation normally assesses points against the driver license while non-moving violations do not. These violations are not punishable by incarceration and there is no right to trial by jury or to court-appointed counsel. SEARCH TRAFFIC CITATIONS Upon receipt of a traffic citation issued to you for a civil infraction, you have 30 days from the date of issuance to satisfy your obligation. In order to satisfy your citation, you can: Pay the citation - You have 30 days from the date your citation was issued to pay or respond. Payments can be made online, by mail, by phone, or in person. Late Payments may result in additional fees, driver-license suspension, or referral to a collection agency. Pay Online - You can pay online using Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express through the Traffic Online Payment System. You can also request certified copies of traffic images in the Traffic Online System. Pay by Mail - You may pay by mail with a check or money order payable to Clerk of the Court and Comptroller. Mailing address: Civil Traffic Infractions – Traffic/Misdemeanor Division, PO Box 19321, Miami, FL 33101-9321. To avoid late fees or license suspension, ensure your payment arrives before the 30-day deadline. Write your citation number on the check or money order. Pay by Phone - Pay 24 hours a day using the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) System at 305-275-1111 for Civil Traffic Infractions. To speak with a deputy clerk, call Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pay in Person - You may pay with a credit card, check, money order, or cash at any of the following Clerk's Office locations: Joseph Caleb Center Court, Coral Gables District Court, Hialeah District Court, North Dade Justice Center, South Dade Justice Center, Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building. Offices are open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Appointments are recommended to avoid wait times, especially during lunch hours. Allow 24 hours after payment for processing. Elect Traffic School - If you received a civil traffic infraction, you have the option to elect traffic school to satisfy your citation. Points will not be assessed against your license. This option does not apply to tag, registration, driver license or PIP insurance, tolls, and/or red light violations issued by a camera. This option is not available to commercial driver's license holders. You are eligible to elect a 4-hour course once every 12 months, for a maximum of 5 times in a lifetime. If you are not eligible for the 4-hour course, you may request an 8-hour course only once in your lifetime. The Clerk of the Court and Comptroller must receive a certificate of completion within 120 days of the date of payment or court appearance. If you elect to attend traffic school and do not comply within 120 days of election, you will be subject to a license suspension, point assessment and additional fees. CHILD RESTRAINT OFFENDER'S PROGRAM (C.R.O.P.) - If you have received a child restraint violation, you can elect to attend the C.R.O.P program and the civil penalty will be reduced and points will not be assessed. You can only attend this course once in a lifetime. Participants must bring their child restraint seat to class. The program is held at Miami Children's Hospital, 3100 S.W. 62 Avenue, Miami, FL 33155. To register for the course, call the hospital at 305-663-6865. You will have 60 days from either the date the citation was paid or from the date you attended court to complete the course. If you fail to complete this course within 60 days, additional penalties will be assessed, your license will be suspended and you will still be required to complete the course. Request a Court Hearing - You may plead not guilty and request a court hearing online, by visiting the Traffic Online System or by filling out the Request for Trial Form. Your citation was issued within the last 30 days: You may submit a request for trial either in person, by mail, by phone or online within 30 days of the citation's issue date. You will receive notice of your hearing date, time and location within six to eight weeks at the address listed on the citation. Your citation was issued between 31 and 180 days ago: You may pay a $16.00 late fee to have your case set for court. Your citation was issued more than 180 days ago: In order to have your case set for court, you must submit a motion to the administrative traffic judge. If you cannot attend court in Miami-Dade County, you may submit a plea of not guilty in absentia by posting a bond by mail with cashier's check or money order in the amount of the civil penalty plus the clerk's fee along with a notarized affidavit of defense sent to: Clerk of the Court and Comptroller, PO Box 19321, Miami, Florida 33101-9321. Citations that Require Compliance - Driver's license (expired less than four months), Registration, PIP insurance, and Defective equipment violations will be dismissed if you submit proof that BEFORE the citation was issued you had valid documentation. If renewal was obtained after the issuance of the citation, submit proof of the renewed document along with the amount of the civil penalty. If you are charged with a violation of Florida Statute 316.2935 or 316.610 "Improper or Unsafe Equipment," you may receive a reduced penalty on these violations if you repair the defect within 30 days of the issue date. Related fees are listed for various violation types including child restraint violations ($175.20-$179), speeding violations ranging from $146.50 to $536 depending on speed and zone, failure to stop for school bus ($384-$391), and many other traffic violations.