Search Clearwater Traffic Tickets

Traffic ticket records for Clearwater are managed by the Pinellas County Clerk of Courts. Clearwater is the county seat of Pinellas County with a population around 115,000. The Pinellas Clerk's main courthouse is right in downtown Clearwater, which gives residents direct access to traffic court services. The Clearwater Police Department writes most citations in the city, though the Pinellas County Sheriff and Florida Highway Patrol also operate here. You have 30 days from your citation date to take action on a ticket.

Pinellas County Clerk Handles Clearwater Citations

All traffic ticket records in Clearwater are processed by the Pinellas County Clerk of Courts. The main courthouse is at 315 Court Street, Room 170, Clearwater, FL 33756. This is part of the 6th Judicial Circuit, which covers both Pinellas and Pasco counties. Under Florida Statute 318.14, you must respond to any traffic citation within 30 calendar days of the date it was issued.

The Pinellas Clerk handles a large volume of traffic cases each year. Being the county seat means Clearwater has the main traffic court operations right in town. You can pay fines, elect traffic school, or request a hearing at the courthouse. The Clerk also offers a phone payment line and online services. For parking tickets issued by the City of Clearwater, contact the city directly. Those are separate from county-processed traffic citations.

Pinellas Clerk Contact Information

Walk-in service is first come, first served. Bring your citation and a valid photo ID. The phone payment line at (727) 464-4846 is available during business hours for credit and debit card payments. Payment plans must be set up in person at the Clearwater courthouse. A processing fee applies to all plans.

Clearwater also handles its own parking tickets separately. For parking citations, contact the city at (727) 562-4094 or email parkingticket@myclearwater.com. Those do not go through the county Clerk.

Clearwater Police Department

The Clearwater Police Department is the primary agency issuing traffic citations in the city. Their headquarters is at 645 Pierce Street, Clearwater, FL 33756. The non-emergency line is (727) 562-4242. Officers patrol US 19, Gulf to Bay Boulevard, Courtney Campbell Causeway, and the beach areas along Clearwater Beach.

Clearwater PD uses the standard Florida Uniform Traffic Citation form. Once the officer writes the ticket, it goes to the Pinellas Clerk for processing. It takes about 5 to 10 business days for new tickets to appear in the system. The Pinellas County Sheriff also writes tickets on roads in unincorporated areas near Clearwater. FHP works US 19 and the Courtney Campbell Causeway. All citations from any agency end up at the Pinellas Clerk.

Visit the city website at myclearwater.com for police services and community resources.

Paying Clearwater Traffic Tickets

Paying a Clearwater traffic ticket is a guilty plea. Points go on your driving record for moving violations. Under Florida Statute 318.18, a standard moving violation carries a $60 base fine. Nonmoving violations are $30. Speeding fines depend on how far over you were going: $25 for 6 to 9 mph over, $100 for 10 to 14 over, $150 for 15 to 19 over, $175 for 20 to 29 over, and $250 for 30 or more over. School zone and construction zone violations double the base fine.

Online payment is available through the Pinellas Clerk website or the PayFLClerk statewide portal. A convenience fee applies to card payments. You can pay by phone at (727) 464-4846 with a credit or debit card. Mail a check or money order to the Pinellas Clerk at 315 Court Street, Room 170, Clearwater, FL 33756. Never send cash. In person, the Clearwater courthouse takes cash, checks, and cards.

If you cannot pay everything at once, a payment plan is an option. You must go in person to set it up. A processing fee applies to all plans.

Traffic School Option for Clearwater Drivers

Traffic school is a good option for many Clearwater drivers. A Basic Driver Improvement course keeps points off your license and cuts the fine by 18%. Contact the Pinellas Clerk within 30 days of your citation to elect this option. Pay the reduced fine plus a $7.00 affidavit fee. Then complete the course within 90 days.

Not all tickets qualify. CDL holders cannot elect traffic school. Speeding 30 mph or more over the limit makes you ineligible. You can use this option five times in your lifetime and once per 12-month period. After you complete the course, send the original certificate to the Pinellas Clerk. Do not assume the school will handle this. Failing to finish on time means full fines, late fees, points on your record, and possible suspension. Find approved courses at flhsmv.gov.

Contesting a Clearwater Traffic Citation

You have the right to fight any traffic ticket. Tell the Pinellas Clerk within 30 days that you want a hearing. Do it in person at the Clearwater courthouse, by phone, or by mail. The court schedules a hearing date in the 6th Judicial Circuit. If you lose, the penalty can reach $500 for most violations or $1,000 for school and construction zone tickets.

If you miss the 30-day window, a $16 late fee applies under Florida Statute 318.15. After 180 days of no response, the Clerk notifies the FLHSMV to suspend your license. Clearing a suspension means paying all fines, late fees, and court costs. Then pay a $60 reinstatement fee through the MyDMV portal. That suspension stays on your driving record for seven years.

Looking Up Clearwater Traffic Records Online

The Pinellas Clerk has an online case search system. Enter your citation number, name, or case number. The results show your ticket status, fine amount, court dates, and any actions taken. The system updates daily as new tickets are processed and payments posted.

The PayFLClerk statewide portal also searches Pinellas County records. Have your citation number ready for the fastest lookup. If you lost your ticket, call the Clerk at (727) 464-7000. They can find your case using your name and date of birth.

The City of Clearwater website offers information on local government, police services, and public resources for residents.

Clearwater residents can use the Pinellas County Clerk's online system to look up traffic citations, make payments, and check court schedules without visiting the courthouse.

Pinellas County Traffic Records

Clearwater is the county seat of Pinellas County. The Pinellas County Clerk of Courts handles all traffic citations issued in the city and throughout the county. For complete details on clerk locations, fee schedules, and traffic court procedures, see the county page.

View Pinellas County Traffic Ticket Records

Nearby Cities

Other cities near Clearwater with traffic ticket records information:

• St. Petersburg
• Largo
• Tampa