Search Miami Traffic Ticket Records

Miami traffic ticket records are filed with the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts and Comptroller. The clerk's office handles all civil traffic infractions for the city of Miami and every other city in Miami-Dade County. Whether a ticket was issued by the Miami Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol, or any other agency, the same clerk processes it. You can search for your citation, pay fines, elect traffic school, or request a court hearing through the clerk's system. Most of these tasks can be done online or by phone.

Miami-Dade County Clerk Handles Miami Citations

The Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts is where all Miami traffic ticket records are kept. The clerk's mailing address is PO Box 19321, Miami, FL 33101-9321. The main office is at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building. For traffic questions, you can call the 24-hour automated line at 305-275-1111. This line works day and night, all year long.

Traffic infractions in Miami-Dade are split into two types. Moving violations carry points on your license. Non-moving violations do not. Neither type is punishable by jail time. You do not have the right to a jury trial or a court-appointed attorney for civil traffic cases. These are handled as administrative matters through the clerk's office.

How to Pay Miami Traffic Tickets

You have 30 days from the date your Miami traffic ticket was issued to take action. Under Florida Statute 318.14, that 30-day window is firm. Miss it and you face a $16 late fee plus the risk of having your license suspended by the state.

Miami-Dade gives you several payment methods. Online payments go through the Traffic Online Payment System on the clerk's website. They accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. You can also pay by mail with a check or money order made out to "Clerk of the Court and Comptroller." Send it to PO Box 19321, Miami, FL 33101-9321. Phone payments are available 24 hours a day through the interactive voice response system at 305-275-1111. In-person payments can be made at district court locations throughout Miami-Dade County.

The statewide PayFLClerk.com portal also works. Select Miami-Dade County from the list and it will redirect you to the local payment system.

Miami Traffic Ticket Options

After getting a traffic ticket in Miami, you have three main choices. Each one has different effects on your record and your wallet. Think about which path makes the most sense before the 30 days run out.

Paying the fine is the fastest option. It closes the case right away. But it counts as a guilty plea. Points will be assessed on your license for moving violations. Under Florida Statute 318.18, standard moving violations carry a $60 base fine. Speeding fines go from $25 for 6 to 9 mph over, up to $250 for 30 mph or more over the posted limit. Fines double in school zones and active construction zones.

Electing traffic school is popular with Miami drivers. You still pay the fine, but with an 18% discount. No points get added to your record. You must complete an approved Basic Driver Improvement course within 90 days. The clerk needs your completion certificate on file. This election is limited to five times in a lifetime and once per 12-month period. CDL holders cannot use this option. It also does not apply to tag, registration, driver license, PIP insurance, toll, or red light camera violations.

Contesting the ticket is your third option. You can request a court hearing within 30 days. Submit your request in person, by mail, by phone, or online. If you are between 31 and 180 days past the citation date, you must pay a $16 late fee to get your case set for court. More than 180 days out, you need to file a motion with the administrative traffic judge explaining why you did not act sooner.

Miami Traffic Records and the Court System

Miami traffic ticket records can be searched online through the Miami-Dade Clerk's system. The clerk's civil traffic infractions page is the best starting point. From there you can look up your case, check what you owe, and see any scheduled court dates.

If you need to submit documents to the court, use the E-Portal at myflcourtaccess.com. You can file as a self-represented litigant. This is useful for sending in motions, affidavits, or compliance paperwork without visiting the courthouse.

For a plea of not guilty when you cannot attend court in person, Miami-Dade allows a plea in absentia. You must post a bond by mail with a cashier's check or money order covering the civil penalty plus the clerk's fee. Include a notarized affidavit of defense with your payment. Mail everything to the Clerk of the Court and Comptroller at PO Box 19321, Miami, FL 33101-9321.

Note: Citations for driver's license, registration, PIP insurance, or defective equipment can sometimes be dismissed if you show proof that you had valid documentation before the citation was issued. A dismissal fee still applies.

Miami City Police and Traffic Enforcement

The City of Miami Police Department handles traffic enforcement within city limits. Their address is 1351 NW 12 Street, Miami, FL 33125, at the Metro Justice Building. The phone number is 305-275-1111. The police department writes the tickets, but the Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts processes them. For any questions about payments, hearings, or your traffic record, go to the clerk, not the police department.

The FLHSMV traffic citations page has broad information on how traffic tickets work across all of Florida. It covers your options, deadlines, and what happens if you do not pay. You can also check your license status through the MyDMV Portal to see if any unpaid Miami tickets have caused a suspension.

Traffic School Options for Miami Drivers

The state maintains a list of approved Basic Driver Improvement course providers at the FLHSMV approved traffic schools page. Many courses can be done online from home. Prices vary by provider but the course content is standardized by the state.

After you finish the course, the school should send your completion certificate to the Miami-Dade Clerk. But do not assume they will. Check with the clerk's office to confirm they received it. If the certificate does not arrive, the clerk will treat your case as if you never took the school. That means full points on your license, the possibility of a suspension, and you lose the 18% fine reduction.

The image below shows the Miami-Dade County Clerk's civil traffic infractions page, where Miami residents can manage their traffic ticket records.

This portal is the official source for looking up and paying Miami traffic citations through the Miami-Dade County court system.

Miami-Dade County Traffic Records

For complete information on traffic ticket procedures across all of Miami-Dade County, visit the Miami-Dade County traffic ticket records page. It covers every court location, payment plan details, and hearing schedules for the county.

Nearby Cities in Miami-Dade County

Several other cities in the Miami area also process their traffic tickets through the Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts. You can find traffic ticket records for Hialeah, Miami Beach, Miami Gardens, Homestead, Hollywood, and Fort Lauderdale through their respective county systems. Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale are in Broward County, so those tickets go through the Broward County Clerk instead.