Access Sarasota Traffic Tickets
Traffic ticket records in Sarasota are managed by the Sarasota County Clerk of the Circuit Court. The city of Sarasota is the county seat with around 75,000 residents, located on the Gulf Coast. The Sarasota Police Department handles local traffic enforcement, while the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office covers areas outside city limits. All citations go to the Sarasota Clerk for processing. You have 30 days from the date on your ticket to take action. The Clerk's website has a specific section for traffic citations with payment and case lookup tools.
Sarasota Quick Facts
Sarasota County Clerk Handles City Tickets
The Sarasota County Clerk of the Circuit Court processes every traffic citation issued in the city of Sarasota. Under Florida Statute 318.14, you have 30 calendar days from the date the officer wrote the citation to respond. You can pay the fine, elect traffic school, or request a hearing.
The Sarasota Clerk's website at sarasotaclerk.com has a dedicated traffic citations section at sarasotaclerk.com/court-services/traffic-citations. That page covers payment methods, traffic school info, and how to contest a ticket. New citations can take 5 to 10 business days to show up in the system. If your ticket does not appear online yet, just wait a few more days before trying again.
Sarasota Clerk Contact Details
| Office | Sarasota County Clerk of the Circuit Court & County Comptroller |
|---|---|
| Website | sarasotaclerk.com |
| Traffic Page | Traffic Citations |
The Sarasota Clerk's traffic page is your best starting point. It walks you through every option for dealing with a citation. Bring your ticket and photo ID for in-person visits. The Clerk's main office is in the county courthouse in downtown Sarasota, making it easy for city residents to stop by. Walk-in service is first come, first served.
Sarasota Police and Local Enforcement
The Sarasota Police Department writes most traffic tickets inside city limits. Officers patrol major corridors like US-41 (Tamiami Trail), Fruitville Road, and Bee Ridge Road. The department uses the standard Florida Uniform Traffic Citation. After the officer gives you the ticket, it goes to the Sarasota Clerk for processing. You can visit the city website at sarasotagov.com for general city services and police contacts.
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office patrols areas outside the city boundaries. FHP troopers cover I-75, which runs through the eastern part of the county. Seasonal residents and tourists add a lot of traffic during winter months, and enforcement stays active year-round. No matter which agency wrote the ticket, it all goes to the Sarasota Clerk. The same 30-day deadline and same response options apply.
Paying Sarasota Traffic Tickets
Paying a traffic ticket means you plead guilty. Points go on your license for moving violations. Under Florida Statute 318.18, a standard moving violation has a $60 base fine before court costs and surcharges get added. Nonmoving violations start at $30.
Speeding fine amounts are set by state law. Going 6 to 9 mph over the limit is $25. At 10 to 14 over, the fine is $100. For 15 to 19 mph over, you pay $150. The fine is $175 for 20 to 29 mph over. At 30 or more mph over, the fine is $250 with mandatory adjudication. School zone and construction zone speeding doubles the base fine. A $16 late fee applies after the 30-day deadline.
Online payments go through the Sarasota Clerk website or the PayFLClerk statewide portal. Select Sarasota County to start. Credit and debit cards work online with a convenience fee. Mail a check or money order to the Clerk's office. In-person payments are accepted at the courthouse. Cash at AMSCOT locations has no extra clerk fee. Payment plans may be available for those who need more time.
Traffic School for Sarasota Drivers
Sarasota drivers can pick a Basic Driver Improvement course to avoid points. This option gives you an 18% cut in the fine amount. The court withholds adjudication, so no conviction goes on your record. You must elect traffic school with the Sarasota Clerk within 30 days of your citation.
After making the election, you have 90 days from the citation date to finish the course and file the completion certificate. Florida law allows traffic school five times in a lifetime and once per 12-month period. CDL holders cannot use this option. Tickets for 30 mph or more over the speed limit are not eligible. Missing the deadline means the full fine, late fees, and points all apply. Find approved courses at flhsmv.gov.
Contesting a Sarasota Citation
You can fight any traffic ticket from Sarasota. Tell the Sarasota Clerk within 30 days that you want a court hearing. If the judge finds you guilty, the penalty can reach $500 for most violations. School zone and construction zone tickets carry a $1,000 maximum.
Missing the 30-day deadline triggers a $16 late fee per Florida Statute 318.15. If 180 days pass with no action, the Clerk reports it to the FLHSMV. A license suspension follows. To clear it, you need to pay all fines and a $60 reinstatement charge. That suspension stays on your driving record for seven years. Taking care of the ticket within the first 30 days is the simplest path forward.
Sarasota Online Records Search
The Sarasota Clerk website lets you search for traffic citations online. Look up tickets by citation number or name. The system shows case status, fine amounts, and available options. This saves a trip to the courthouse for a quick status check.
The PayFLClerk portal is another way to find and pay Sarasota County tickets. Check your license status through the MyDMV Portal. The Clerk and the FLHSMV run separate systems. The Clerk handles the citation itself. The FLHSMV tracks your license and points. If a Sarasota ticket caused a suspension, that information shows up at the FLHSMV portal.
The City of Sarasota website provides information on local government services and community resources.
The Sarasota city homepage has links to local services and police contacts useful for residents dealing with traffic citations.
Sarasota County Traffic Records
Sarasota is the county seat of Sarasota County. The Sarasota County Clerk of the Circuit Court handles all traffic ticket records for the city and the rest of the county. For full details on traffic court procedures, fee schedules, and county resources, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
Other cities near Sarasota with traffic ticket records pages: