Lakeland Traffic Ticket Lookup
Traffic ticket records for Lakeland are processed by the Polk County Clerk of Courts. Lakeland is the largest city in Polk County with a population near 110,000. It sits between Tampa and Orlando along the I-4 corridor, making it one of the busiest traffic areas in Central Florida. The Lakeland Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency writing citations in the city. All tickets go to the Polk County Clerk in Bartow for processing. You have 30 days to respond after getting a traffic citation.
Lakeland Quick Facts
Polk County Clerk Manages Lakeland Citations
Every traffic citation issued in Lakeland goes through the Polk County Clerk of Courts. The Clerk's main office is at 255 North Broadway Avenue in Bartow, which is the county seat. Bartow is about 15 miles south of Lakeland. Under Florida Statute 318.14, you must respond to your citation within 30 calendar days of the date it was issued.
Polk County is large, and the Clerk has branch offices that serve different parts of the county. Lakeland residents can check the Clerk's website for the closest branch location. Online services are available for most tasks. You can look up tickets, make payments, and elect traffic school from home. That saves the drive to Bartow for many routine matters.
Polk County Clerk Contact Details
| Clerk Office | Polk County Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Address | 255 N. Broadway Ave., Bartow, FL 33830 |
| Phone | (863) 534-4000 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Website | polkclerkfl.gov |
Walk-in service at any Polk Clerk office is first come, first served. Bring your citation and a valid photo ID. Payment plans must be set up in person. A $25 processing fee applies per case. You cannot set up a plan by phone or online.
Lakeland Police Department
The Lakeland Police Department is the city's main law enforcement agency. Their headquarters is at 219 North Massachusetts Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33801. The non-emergency number is (863) 834-6900. LPD officers patrol heavily along Memorial Boulevard, South Florida Avenue, Lakeland Hills Boulevard, and New Tampa Highway.
Lakeland PD uses the standard Florida Uniform Traffic Citation. After the officer writes your ticket, it goes to the Polk County Clerk. New citations take about 5 to 10 business days to show up in the system. The Polk County Sheriff's Office also operates in and around Lakeland, particularly in unincorporated areas. FHP is active on I-4, which runs through the northern edge of the city. I-4 between Tampa and Orlando is one of the busiest and most dangerous stretches of highway in the state. Speed enforcement there is heavy. All citations from any agency go to the Polk Clerk.
Visit the city website at lakelandgov.net for local police services and resources.
Paying Lakeland Traffic Tickets
Paying a traffic ticket in Lakeland is a guilty plea. Points go on your license for moving violations. Under Florida Statute 318.18, a basic moving violation has a $60 base fine before court costs and surcharges. Nonmoving violations carry a $30 base fine. Speeding fines range from $25 for 6 to 9 mph over to $250 for 30 mph or more over. School zone and construction zone violations double the base fine amount.
Online payment is available at the Polk County Clerk website or through PayFLClerk. Select Polk County and enter your citation number. A convenience fee applies to all card payments. You can also pay by phone at (863) 534-4000. Mail a check or money order to 255 N. Broadway Ave., Bartow, FL 33830. Do not send cash. In person, the Bartow courthouse and any branch office accept cash, checks, and cards.
Payment plans are available for those who cannot pay all at once. Go to any Polk Clerk office in person to set one up.
Traffic School for Lakeland Drivers
Traffic school keeps points off your record and reduces the fine by 18%. Elect a Basic Driver Improvement course within 30 days of your citation date. Pay the reduced fine plus a $7.00 affidavit fee to the Polk County Clerk. Complete the course within 90 days.
CDL holders cannot use this option. Tickets for 30 mph or more over the speed limit do not qualify. You get five lifetime uses, limited to once per 12-month period. When you finish the course, send the original completion certificate to the Polk County Clerk. Do not assume the school will submit it for you. Missing the 90-day deadline means full fines, a late fee, points on your license, and possible suspension. Find approved schools at flhsmv.gov.
Contesting a Lakeland Traffic Ticket
You can fight any traffic ticket written in Lakeland. Notify the Polk County Clerk within 30 days that you want a court hearing. You can do this in person, by mail, or by phone. The 10th Judicial Circuit schedules traffic court in Bartow. If the court finds you guilty, fines can reach $500 for most violations or $1,000 for school and construction zone tickets.
Missing the 30-day deadline triggers a $16 late fee under Florida Statute 318.15. After 180 days with no response, the Clerk reports it to the FLHSMV. Your license gets suspended. Clearing the suspension requires paying all fines and a $60 reinstatement fee through the MyDMV portal. The suspension shows on your record for seven years. Do not ignore a ticket, even if you think you can beat it. File your request for a hearing on time.
Online Records Search
The Polk County Clerk has an online case search on their website. Enter your citation number, name, or case number. The system shows your ticket status, amounts owed, and court dates. It updates as payments are posted and cases move through the system.
The PayFLClerk statewide portal also works for Polk County lookups. Your citation number gives the fastest results. Lost your ticket? Call (863) 534-4000. The Clerk can look up your case by name and date of birth.
The City of Lakeland website provides information on local government, police services, and community resources for residents.
The Polk County Clerk's traffic section provides details on ticket payment options, traffic school, and court procedures for the 10th Judicial Circuit.
Polk County Traffic Records
Lakeland is part of Polk County. The Polk County Clerk of Courts handles all traffic citations issued in the city and across the county. For full details on Polk County traffic courts, clerk locations, and fee schedules, see the county page.
Nearby Cities
Other cities near Lakeland with traffic ticket records information: