Alachua County Traffic Ticket Records

Alachua County traffic ticket records are managed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Gainesville. This north-central Florida county is home to the University of Florida and has a population of roughly 285,000 residents. The Clerk's office processes all civil traffic infractions issued within Alachua County, from speeding tickets on I-75 to local road violations in the Gainesville area. Whether you need to pay a fine, look up a citation, or check on a court date, the Alachua County Clerk handles it all. Online tools and phone services make it possible to deal with most traffic ticket matters without visiting the courthouse.

Alachua County Clerk of Court Traffic Division

The Alachua County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller runs the traffic ticket division. J.K. "Jess" Irby, Esq. serves as the Clerk. The traffic bureau has its own phone line and email address, which makes it easy to get help with citation questions. Staff can look up your ticket, explain your options, and walk you through payment or court hearing steps. The office sits in downtown Gainesville at the county courthouse.

If you have a new traffic ticket in Alachua County, it may take up to 7 working days for the citation to show up in the system. Do not worry if you try to look it up online right after getting the ticket and nothing appears. Give it a few days. Once it is in the system, you can deal with it online, by phone, by mail, or in person at the clerk's office in Alachua County.

Paying Alachua County Traffic Tickets

Alachua County gives you several ways to pay a traffic ticket. The fastest method is online through the MyFloridaCounty portal. You can also pay by phone, by mail, or in person at the clerk's office. Each method has its own rules and fees. Credit and debit card payments come with a convenience fee no matter which way you pay in Alachua County.

The Alachua County Clerk's office provides an online traffic citation search page where you can look up your ticket before paying. You can find your citation details at the Alachua County online traffic citation search page. Once you locate your ticket, the site walks you through the payment steps. For phone payments, call the toll-free line at 1-855-984-1187. Mail payments go to the Clerk of Court and must be a check or money order. Do not send cash by mail for your Alachua County traffic ticket.

The Alachua County Clerk's traffic page at alachuacounty.us shows the full list of payment options and filing methods available to people with traffic tickets in the county.

Keep in mind that if your Alachua County citation is over 30 days old, the automated payment system will not work. You will need to call the traffic bureau at 352-374-3609 or go in person. Also, registration and insurance violations cannot use the automated system. You must show proof of valid coverage or registration to the clerk's office in Alachua County.

Note: Online payments at MyFloridaCounty.com charge a convenience fee on all credit and debit card transactions for Alachua County traffic tickets.

Traffic Ticket Options in Alachua County

When you get a traffic ticket in Alachua County, you have 30 days from the date on the citation to choose how to handle it. This deadline is set by Florida Statute 318.14, which applies across the whole state. Missing the 30-day window adds a $16 late fee and can lead to your license being suspended. The Alachua County Clerk's office lists three main options for dealing with a civil traffic infraction.

The first option is to just pay the fine. This counts as a guilty plea. Points will go on your driving record based on the type of violation. You can see the fine amounts for different Alachua County traffic tickets at the Alachua County traffic fines table. The second option is to pay the fine and elect to take a Basic Driver Improvement course. This option gives you an 18% cut in the fine amount, and no points go on your record if you finish the course. You have to complete the course within 90 days of the citation date and then file the certificate with the Alachua County Clerk.

The Alachua County Clerk's citation options page at alachuacounty.us breaks down what each choice means for your record and your wallet.

The third option is to contest the ticket and ask for a court hearing. You must contact the Alachua County Clerk within 30 days to request this. A judge will hear the case, and the officer who wrote the ticket may be called to testify. If you lose at trial, the court can charge you a fine up to $500 for most violations. School zone and construction zone speeding tickets can reach $1,000 under Florida Statute 318.18. The Alachua County filing options page has the forms you need.

Alachua County Traffic School Election

Electing traffic school is a common choice for Alachua County drivers who want to keep points off their record. The process is straightforward. You pay the reduced fine to the Alachua County Clerk, then complete an approved Basic Driver Improvement course. The state keeps a list of approved schools at FLHSMV's website. Most courses can be done online from home.

There are limits on who can use this option. Under Florida law, you can only elect traffic school five times in your life. You cannot use it more than once in a 12-month period. Drivers with a commercial license are not allowed to pick this option at all. If you were caught going 30 mph or more over the speed limit in Alachua County, traffic school is off the table. You must complete the course within 90 days of the citation date and make sure the completion certificate gets filed with the Alachua County Clerk. The school may not do this for you, so check to be safe.

Note: Failure to complete the course or file the certificate on time in Alachua County will result in license suspension, extra fees, and points on your record.

Alachua County Operation Green Light

Alachua County takes part in Operation Green Light, an annual program run by the Florida Clerks and Comptrollers. This program gives drivers with suspended licenses a chance to clear up overdue traffic ticket obligations. During the event, you can save up to 35% on added fees that built up from missing your payment deadline. It is a good deal if you have old Alachua County traffic tickets hanging over you.

You can take care of things during Operation Green Light by paying in full or starting a payment plan. Both options are open in person at the Alachua County Clerk's office or by phone. The program runs for a set time each year, so check with the clerk or visit PayFLClerk.com for dates. If your license got suspended because of unpaid Alachua County traffic tickets, this is one of the best times to fix it.

Alachua County Traffic Ticket Fines

Fine amounts for Alachua County traffic tickets follow the state schedule set by Florida Statute 318.18. Speeding fines go up based on how far over the limit you were driving. Going 6 to 9 mph over costs $25 in base fines. Ten to 14 mph over is $100. Fifteen to 19 over runs $150. Twenty to 29 over is $175. And 30 mph or more above the limit carries a $250 base fine. Court costs and county surcharges get added on top of those numbers.

Moving violations carry a base fine of $60 in Alachua County. Nonmoving violations are $30. School zone speeding doubles the fine. The same goes for construction zone speeding when workers are present. If you fail to pay within 30 days, a $16 late fee gets tacked on. After that, the Alachua County Clerk must notify FLHSMV, and your license faces suspension. The full Alachua County fine schedule is on the clerk's traffic fines page.

License Suspension for Alachua County Tickets

Failing to handle an Alachua County traffic ticket on time can lead to serious problems with your driving privileges. Under Florida law, if you do not pay or respond within 30 days, the clerk sends notice to FLHSMV. The state then mails an order to suspend your license, and the suspension takes effect 20 days after that letter goes out. This suspension stays on your FLHSMV record for seven years.

To get your license back after a suspension from an unpaid Alachua County traffic ticket, you need to pay off the full amount owed plus a $60 reinstatement fee. You can check your license status through the MyDMV Portal or at any FLHSMV office. The Alachua County Clerk can tell you exactly what you owe. Once you pay, the clerk issues a certificate of compliance, and FLHSMV lifts the suspension.

Cities in Alachua County

Alachua County has several cities and towns. All traffic tickets issued within the county are handled by the Alachua County Clerk of Court in Gainesville. Gainesville is the county seat and by far the largest city.

Other communities in Alachua County include Alachua, Archer, Hawthorne, High Springs, Micanopy, Newberry, and Waldo. Traffic tickets from all of these areas go through the same Alachua County Clerk's office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Alachua County. If you got a traffic ticket near a county line, make sure you are dealing with the right clerk's office. The county listed on your citation is the one that handles your case.