In Florida, you can generally pay your ticket fines online, by mail, by phone, or in person. You can also fight your ticket or ask the court to reduce your fine. Be sure to respond to your traffic ticket within 30 days, or you could face additional penalties, such as a license suspension.
FINES & PENALTIES
Traffic fines in Florida vary by court. If you do not respond or pay within 30 days, you may be charged additional late fees. Refer to your traffic ticket or work with one of our traffic attorneys to determine your exact ticket amount, deadlines, and penalties. All traffic matters in Florida are handled by OTR Florida Law and its team of experienced, local Florida attorneys.
Florida's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) operates under a driving record point system. They may suspend your driver’s license if you accumulate the following points within these time periods.
| Points | Suspension Length |
|---|
| 12 within 12 months | 30 Days |
| 18 within 18 months | 3 months |
| 24+ within 36 months | 1-year |
Some major violations include:
- Reckless driving.
- Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol.
- Not carrying adequate car insurance.
Read more about fines and suspensions on the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website, here.
POINTS FOR VARIOUS TRAFFIC TICKET VIOLATIONS
If you receive an out-of-state ticket and there are points associated with that violation in Florida then those points may be added to your Florida driving record.
| Violation | Points |
|---|
| Speeding 1 to 15 MPH over the limit limit | 3 |
| Speeding 16+ MPH over the limit | 4 |
| Speeding resulting in a crash | 6 |
| Moving violation (includes driving during restricted hours and parking on a highway outside the limits of a municipality) | 3 |
| Moving violation resulting in a crash | 4 |
| Failing to stop at a traffic signal (effective October 1, 2005) | 4 |
| Passing a stopped school bus | 4 |
| Reckless driving | 4 |
| Leaving the scene of a crash resulting in property damage of more than $50 | 6 |
| Improper lane change | 3 |
| Violation of a traffic control sign/device | 4 |
| Open container as an operator | 3 |
| Child restraint violation | 3 |
| Littering | 3 |
You can see this graph and read more about points and on the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website, here.
MOVING VIOLATIONS
A moving violation typically occurs when a traffic law is violated by a vehicle in motion. Some examples of moving violations are speeding, running a stop sign or red light, and drunk driving. A non-moving violation, by contrast, is usually related to parking or faulty equipment.
TRAFFIC SCHOOL
Florida drivers are generally not eligible to attend driving school on out-of-state tickets.
Depending on the type of violation you received, you may need to take some form of traffic school. There are 3 types of traffic school courses:
- Basic driver improvement
- Speed Violations
- Reckless driving
- Passing a stopped school bus
- Collisions in which you were found to be at fault.
- 3-in-3 driver change course
- Required if you've committed 3 violations that caused a crash within 36 months
- Includes behind-the wheel training
- Advanced driver improvement
- Required for individuals with a suspended license or by court order.
- For non-DUI offenses.
Here's a list of approved DMV courses.
There are fees associated with Florida traffic school courses.
RESPONDING TO YOUR TICKET
Generally, an attorney will advise one of two ways to respond to your traffic ticket:
- Pay the ticket
- Request a contested hearing
One of our attorneys will help you ensure you respond in a timely manner, but generally, regardless of plea, you must respond before the ticket's due date. This is 30 days from the infraction date.
Pay the ticket
Paying a Florida traffic ticket is an admission of guilt.
This means:
- You are waiving your right to challenge the traffic ticket in court.
- Depending on your FL driving record, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) may suspend your Florida driver's license.
- The traffic violation may cause an increase in your car insurance rates.
Requesting a contested hearing
If you want to plead “not guilty" to the violation, one of our attorneys can advise you on the best way to do this but, generally, you can request a contested hearing at the relevant county court by checking the appropriate check box on your ticket and then mailing it in to the court. You can also connect with one of our lawyers to advise you on contesting your ticket right on your phone! Our attorneys use Off The Record app to communicate with clients and keep them up to date on their case.
Only 5% of drivers contest their traffic tickets.
HIRING AN ATTORNEY
Fighting your traffic ticket may help you avoid fines, license suspension, and increased insurance premiums. A traffic attorney, like those that you can hire through our partner firm OTR Florida Law, is a major asset in that fight. Typically, you can expect an attorney to:
- Handle all the paperwork
- Represent you in court
- Negotiate with the prosecutor to have your charges dropped or reduced
