Gainesville Traffic Ticket Records
Traffic ticket records in Gainesville are processed through the Alachua County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Gainesville is the county seat and largest city in Alachua County with about 140,000 people, many of them students at the University of Florida. The Clerk's traffic bureau handles all citations issued by Gainesville Police, the Alachua County Sheriff's Office, UF Police, and the Florida Highway Patrol. You have 30 days from the date on the ticket to respond. The Clerk's office is in downtown Gainesville at the county courthouse, making it easy to deal with tickets in person.
Gainesville Quick Facts
Alachua County Handles Gainesville Tickets
The Alachua County Clerk of the Circuit Court processes all traffic citations for Gainesville. Clerk J.K. "Jess" Irby, Esq. runs the office. The traffic bureau has its own phone line at 352-374-3609 and a direct email at traffic@alachuaclerk.org. The general Clerk phone number is 352-374-3636. The Clerk's main office is at 201 E. University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601. That is the Alachua County Civil and Family Law Courthouse in downtown Gainesville.
Under Florida Statute 318.14, you have 30 calendar days from the date the citation was issued to pay the fine, elect traffic school, or request a court hearing. It may take up to 7 working days for a new citation to appear in the Clerk's system after the officer gives it to you. If you try to pay online and the ticket is not in the system yet, wait a few more days before trying again.
Gainesville Clerk Office Details
| Office | Alachua County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller |
|---|---|
| Address | 201 E. University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601 |
| Traffic Phone | 352-374-3609 |
| General Phone | 352-374-3636 |
| Traffic Email | traffic@alachuaclerk.org |
| Website | alachuacounty.us/Clerk |
The Alachua County Clerk's traffic page has detailed information on citation options, fines, and filing procedures. You can view the citation options page for a breakdown of what each choice means. The filing options page lists every way to submit your response. There is also an online citation search tool where you can look up your ticket by number.
Gainesville Police and UF Police Citations
Two main agencies write most traffic tickets in Gainesville. The Gainesville Police Department handles law enforcement across the city. Their website is at gainesvillepd.org. The University of Florida Police Department covers the UF campus and surrounding areas. Many students get their first traffic ticket near campus. Both agencies use the Florida Uniform Traffic Citation, and all tickets go to the Alachua County Clerk for processing.
The Alachua County Sheriff's Office also patrols unincorporated parts of the county around Gainesville. State troopers from the Florida Highway Patrol write tickets on I-75, which runs just west of the city, and on other state roads. Regardless of which agency wrote the citation, the Alachua Clerk handles it. Gainesville has a lot of traffic near the university, and game days at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium make the roads especially busy. Tickets from those busy periods still follow the same process and timelines.
Payment Options for Gainesville Tickets
The Alachua County Clerk gives you several ways to pay a traffic ticket from Gainesville. Paying the fine means the court treats it as a guilty plea. Points go on your license for moving violations. Under Florida Statute 318.18, a standard moving violation is $60 before court costs and surcharges. Speeding fines start at $25 for 6-9 mph over and go up to $250 for 30 mph or more. School zone fines are double.
Online payment goes through the MyFloridaCounty website. Credit and debit cards are accepted, and a convenience fee applies. You can also pay by phone at 1-855-984-1187. Mail a check or money order payable to Clerk of Court to the office address. In-person payments are accepted at the Clerk's office in Gainesville during regular business hours. The statewide PayFLClerk portal also works. Select Alachua County from the drop-down to get started.
One thing to note about the Alachua Clerk's system: if your citation is over 30 days old, the automated payment system may not let you pay. You will need to call the traffic bureau at 352-374-3609 to sort it out. Also, tickets for registration or insurance violations cannot be paid through the automated system because you need to show proof of compliance first.
Traffic School for Gainesville Drivers
Gainesville drivers can elect a Basic Driver Improvement course to avoid points on their license. This is a popular choice, especially among UF students getting their first ticket. Under Florida Statute 318.14, electing traffic school gives you an 18% reduction in the fine. The court withholds adjudication, so no conviction shows up on your record. You must contact the Alachua Clerk within 30 days of the citation to elect this option.
You then have 90 days from the citation date to finish the course and file the completion certificate with the Clerk. The Clerk's office does note that the school may not send the certificate on your behalf. Check to make sure it gets filed. The five-lifetime and once-per-12-months limits still apply. CDL holders cannot elect traffic school. If your ticket was for going 30 mph or more over the speed limit, this option is not available. Find approved courses at flhsmv.gov.
Contesting a Ticket in Gainesville
You can fight a traffic ticket from Gainesville. Contact the Alachua Clerk within 30 days to ask for a court hearing. You can go to the office in person, call the traffic line, or send a written request by mail. The court will set a date and tell the officer to appear. If you lose, the penalty can go up to $500. For school zone or construction zone violations, the max penalty is $1,000.
Missing the 30-day deadline adds a $16 late fee. After 180 days with no response, the Clerk reports it to the FLHSMV and your license gets suspended. Getting it back means paying all fines, the late fee, and a $60 reinstatement charge. The suspension stays on your driving record for seven years. The Alachua Clerk also runs an Operation Green Light program each year. This gives people with old suspended licenses a chance to pay overdue fines with savings of up to 35% in added fees. Full payment or a payment plan can be set up in person or by phone during the event.
The Gainesville Police Department website offers information on local traffic enforcement and community policing programs.
The Gainesville PD page provides local law enforcement contacts and resources for residents dealing with traffic citations issued in the city.
Alachua County Traffic Ticket Records
Gainesville is the county seat of Alachua County. The Alachua County Clerk of the Circuit Court handles all traffic ticket records for Gainesville and every other city in the county. For more details on the county traffic court, fee tables, filing options, and other resources, see the full county page.