Collier County Traffic Ticket Records

Traffic ticket records in Collier County are filed and kept by the Clerk of Courts office in Naples. The Collier County Clerk handles all civil traffic infractions that occur within county lines, from speeding on I-75 to red light violations along US-41. Located in southwest Florida, Collier County sees a mix of local and tourist traffic that leads to a steady volume of citations each year. The Clerk of Courts processes payments, manages court dates, and stores all citation data for public access. Whether you need to pay a fine or look up a past ticket, the Collier County Clerk office is your starting point.

Collier County Clerk of Courts Office

The Collier County Clerk of Courts is the main office that handles traffic ticket records. Staff at this office can pull up your citation, tell you the fine amount, and take your payment. The traffic division has a direct phone line for questions about tickets. You can also walk in during business hours. The Clerk keeps records for all civil traffic infractions filed in Collier County, and the office can provide copies of old citations if you need them for any reason.

Collier County falls in the 20th Judicial Circuit of Florida. This circuit also covers Charlotte, Glades, Hendry, and Lee Counties. The county court in Collier County handles noncriminal traffic infractions under Florida Statute 318.14, while the circuit court takes criminal traffic cases like DUI and driving on a suspended license. Most people who get a ticket in Collier County deal with the county court side of things. That means you pay the fine, elect traffic school, or request a hearing.

Paying Collier County Traffic Tickets

You have 30 days from the date on your citation to pay or respond. This is the law under Florida Statute 318.14. If you miss that deadline, a $16 late fee gets added to your fine. Your license may also be suspended if you let it go too long. The Collier County Clerk offers several ways to pay, so there is no good reason to miss the cutoff.

The statewide payment portal at PayFLClerk.com lets you pay Collier County traffic tickets online. Just pick Collier County from the list and follow the steps. You can also pay in person at the Clerk's office on Tamiami Trail East. Mail payments are accepted too. Send a check or money order to P.O. Box 413044, Naples, FL 33941. Make it out to the Clerk of Courts. Include your citation number on the check so staff can match it to your case. Credit and debit cards are taken online with a small convenience fee attached.

If you can't pay the full amount at once, ask the Clerk about a payment plan. Under Florida Statute 28.246, clerks can set up plans for people who need more time. You have to go in person to set this up in Collier County.

Note: It may take 5 to 10 days after you get your ticket for it to show up in the Clerk's system in Collier County.

Traffic Ticket Options in Collier County

When you get a traffic ticket in Collier County, you have three choices. Each one leads to a different result on your driving record. Pick the option that fits your situation best, and act within 30 days of the citation date. The Collier County Clerk's office can walk you through each option if you call or visit.

The first option is to pay the fine. This is the simplest path. You pay the amount on the ticket and the case is closed. But paying the fine counts as a guilty plea. Points will go on your license if the violation carries them. Under Florida Statute 318.18, fines range from $25 for going 6 to 9 mph over the limit up to $250 for 30 mph or more over the speed limit. Moving violations carry a base fine of $60 before court costs and other surcharges are added in Collier County.

The second option is to elect a basic driver improvement course. You still pay a fine, but you get an 18% cut off the total. More importantly, the court withholds adjudication, which means no points on your license. You must tell the Clerk within 30 days that you want this option. Then you have 90 days to finish an approved course and turn in your certificate. CDL holders cannot pick this option. Drivers going 30 mph or more over the limit are also barred from traffic school in Collier County.

The third option is to contest the ticket. You plead not guilty and ask for a hearing. The Collier County court will set a date for you to appear before a judge. If you win, you pay nothing. If you lose, the judge can set a fine up to $500. For school zone or construction zone speeding, that cap goes up to $1,000.

Collier County Traffic Ticket Fines

Fine amounts for Collier County traffic tickets follow the state schedule set by Florida Statute 318.18. Court costs and surcharges get added on top, so the total you owe will be more than the base fine. The Clerk's office can tell you the exact amount for your specific citation in Collier County.

• Speeding 6-9 mph over: $25 base fine
• Speeding 10-14 mph over: $100 base fine
• Speeding 15-19 mph over: $150 base fine
• Speeding 20-29 mph over: $175 base fine
• Speeding 30+ mph over: $250 base fine
• Standard moving violation: $60 base fine
• Nonmoving violation: $30 base fine

School zone and construction zone fines are double the amounts shown above. The construction zone fine only applies when workers are present at the site. A $16 late fee applies if you do not pay within 30 days. Failing to act on your Collier County ticket can also lead to license suspension through the FLHSMV. Once your license is suspended, you must pay a $60 reinstatement fee plus all outstanding fines to get it back.

Collier County Traffic Records Resources

The Florida FLHSMV provides a statewide overview of how traffic citations work, including the rules that apply in Collier County. You can view the main page at flhsmv.gov/traffic-citations for details.

This state resource covers everything from fine amounts to traffic school rules. It applies to all tickets issued in Collier County and across Florida.

License Suspension for Collier County Tickets

If you ignore a traffic ticket in Collier County, things get worse fast. The Clerk of Courts is required to notify the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles when a citation goes unpaid past the deadline. The FLHSMV then mails you a suspension order. Your license goes inactive 20 days after that order is sent. This suspension stays on your record for seven years, even after you clear it up.

To get your license back after a Collier County traffic ticket suspension, you need to pay all fines, late fees, and any collection charges. You also pay a $60 service charge to the FLHSMV for reinstatement. You can check your license status at mydmvportal.flhsmv.gov. The Clerk's office in Collier County can issue a certificate of compliance once you clear your balance, which you then send to FLHSMV.

Note: Out-of-state drivers who get tickets in Collier County can still face license issues in their home state through interstate compact agreements.

Traffic School for Collier County Citations

Electing a basic driver improvement course is the best way to keep points off your record after a Collier County traffic ticket. The course takes about four hours. You can take it online or in a classroom. The FLHSMV keeps a list of approved providers at flhsmv.gov. You pick the school and pay them directly. Their fee is separate from the citation fine you pay to the Collier County Clerk.

There are limits on who can use this option. You can elect traffic school up to five times in your lifetime. You cannot use it more than once in any 12-month period. CDL holders are not eligible. If your ticket is for going 30 mph or more over the speed limit, you cannot elect the course. Once you finish, the school gives you a certificate. Send that to the Collier County Clerk of Courts by the deadline. If you miss the 90-day window, the court may enter a conviction and add points to your license.

Checking Your Driving Record in Collier County

Your traffic ticket history from Collier County shows up on your Florida driving record. You can check it online through the FLHSMV at flhsmv.gov/driving-record-history. The three-year record costs a small fee, while the seven-year or complete history costs a bit more. This record shows all tickets, points, suspensions, and traffic school elections on file. The Florida Clerks and Comptrollers association at flclerks.com also has links to pay and look up traffic tickets from Collier County and all other Florida counties.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Collier County. You must handle your traffic ticket in the county where the citation was issued. If you got a ticket near a county line, check the issuing county on your citation before you pay.

Cities in Collier County

Collier County includes Naples, Marco Island, Immokalee, and other communities. All traffic tickets issued in these areas are handled by the Collier County Clerk of Courts. None of the cities in Collier County have separate traffic courts. No matter where in the county you got your ticket, you deal with the same Clerk office in Naples for payment and records.