Miami Gardens Traffic Ticket Records
Traffic ticket records for Miami Gardens are processed and stored by the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts. Miami Gardens is the third largest city in Miami-Dade County, with a population of about 115,000 people. If you get a citation in Miami Gardens from any law enforcement agency, the same clerk's office handles your case. You can search for your ticket, pay fines, elect traffic school, or ask for a court hearing. Most of these steps can be done online, by phone, or by mail without a trip to the courthouse.
Miami Gardens Quick Facts
Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts Handles Miami Gardens Citations
The Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts processes all traffic ticket records for Miami Gardens. There is no city-level traffic court here. Every citation written in Miami Gardens goes to the same county clerk office that serves the rest of Miami-Dade. The clerk's mailing address is PO Box 19321, Miami, FL 33101-9321. You can reach them by phone at 305-275-1111. That line runs 24 hours a day with an automated system.
| Court | Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts & Comptroller |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | PO Box 19321 Miami, FL 33101-9321 |
| Phone | 305-275-1111 (24-hour IVR) |
| Website | www.miamidadeclerk.gov |
| Traffic Page | Civil Traffic Infractions |
Under Florida Statute 318.14, you have exactly 30 days from the date on your Miami Gardens traffic ticket to respond. That means you need to pay the fine, sign up for traffic school, or request a hearing within that window. Missing this deadline adds a $16 late fee to your total amount owed and puts you at risk of a license suspension from the state.
Miami Gardens traffic ticket records fall under the 11th Judicial Circuit. The circuit covers all of Miami-Dade County. Civil traffic cases are not criminal matters. You do not get a jury trial or a public defender for a traffic ticket. These are administrative cases handled by traffic hearing officers.
Payment Options for Miami Gardens Traffic Tickets
Paying a Miami Gardens traffic ticket is the quickest way to close your case. But it counts as a guilty plea. Points go on your license for moving violations. If that concerns you, look at traffic school or contesting the ticket instead. The fine amounts are set by Florida Statute 318.18. A basic moving violation starts at $60 before court costs. Speeding fines range from $25 for going 6 to 9 mph over the limit up to $250 for 30 mph or more over. School zones and construction zones carry double fines.
Miami-Dade offers several payment methods for Miami Gardens tickets. You can pay online through the clerk's website at miamidadeclerk.gov. Credit and debit cards are accepted. Phone payments work through the 305-275-1111 automated line at any hour. Mail payments go to PO Box 19321, Miami, FL 33101-9321. Use a check or money order made out to "Clerk of the Court and Comptroller." The statewide PayFLClerk.com portal is another option. Just pick Miami-Dade from the county list.
In-person payments can be made at district court locations around Miami-Dade County. Bring your citation number and a valid ID.
Citation Options After Getting a Miami Gardens Ticket
You have three choices when you get a traffic ticket in Miami Gardens. Each one leads to a different outcome for your driving record and your wallet. Pick the one that fits your situation before those 30 days run out.
The first option is to pay the fine. This closes the case fast. You accept the violation and points land on your record for moving violations. It is the simplest path but carries the most impact on your license. Non-moving violations do not add points.
The second option is traffic school. You still pay the fine, but you get an 18% discount on the amount. No points go on your license. The clerk withholds adjudication, so there is no formal conviction on your record. You must finish an approved Basic Driver Improvement course within 90 days. This option has limits. You can only use it five times in your life and once per year. CDL holders cannot use it. Tickets for going 30 mph or more over the speed limit do not qualify either.
The third option is to contest the ticket. Request a hearing within 30 days and the court will schedule you for a date. If you are past 30 days but still within 180 days, you can request a hearing by paying the $16 late fee first. Beyond 180 days, you need to file a motion with the traffic judge explaining the delay.
Traffic School for Miami Gardens Drivers
Traffic school is a common choice for Miami Gardens residents who want to avoid points on their license. The state approves a list of Basic Driver Improvement course providers. You can find that list on the FLHSMV website. Most courses are available online and can be done from home at your own pace. Prices vary by provider but the course content is the same across all of them.
After you finish the course, the school sends your completion certificate to the Miami-Dade Clerk. Do not assume this happens automatically. Call the clerk's office at 305-275-1111 to confirm they got it. If the certificate does not arrive in time, the clerk treats your case as if you never took the class. That means full points on your license and the loss of your 18% discount on the fine.
License Suspension Risks for Miami Gardens Tickets
Ignoring a Miami Gardens traffic ticket can lead to a license suspension. Under Florida Statute 318.14, if you do not respond within the allowed time, the Florida DHSMV can suspend your driving privileges. The suspension stays in effect until you clear the ticket and pay the reinstatement fee. You can check your license status at any time through the MyDMV Portal.
Points from traffic tickets also add up over time. Too many points within a set period leads to a separate suspension based on your point total. Twelve points in 12 months gets you a 30-day suspension. Eighteen points in 18 months is a 3-month suspension. Twenty-four points in 36 months results in a full year. That is why traffic school can be worth it for Miami Gardens drivers. Keeping points off your record now helps prevent bigger problems later.
Looking Up Miami Gardens Traffic Records Online
You can search for Miami Gardens traffic ticket records through the Miami-Dade Clerk's online system. The civil traffic infractions page is the starting point. Enter your citation number or personal details to find your case. From there you can see what you owe, check scheduled court dates, and view the current status of your ticket.
It may take a few days for a new ticket to appear in the system. If your citation was just issued and you do not see it online, wait about 5 to 10 business days and try again. The FLHSMV driving record page lets you pull your full driving history. This shows all tickets on your record, not just ones from Miami Gardens. You can order an official copy of your driving record for personal review or for court purposes.
The Miami Gardens Police Department writes most local citations. Their office is at 1020 NW 163rd Drive, Miami Gardens, FL 33169. The city website is at miamigardensfl.gov. Florida Highway Patrol and the Miami-Dade Police also write tickets in the area. Regardless of which agency issued the ticket, the Miami-Dade Clerk is where the record ends up.
The image below shows the PayFLClerk payment portal, which Miami Gardens residents can use to pay traffic citations online through the statewide system.
Select Miami-Dade County from the portal's dropdown menu to access payment options for Miami Gardens traffic tickets processed through the county clerk system.
Miami-Dade County Traffic Ticket Records
Miami Gardens is one of many cities in Miami-Dade County where the county clerk handles all traffic tickets. For full details on court locations, payment plans, hearing schedules, and additional resources across the county, visit the main county page.
Nearby Cities
Other cities near Miami Gardens with traffic ticket records pages: