DeSoto County Traffic Records

Traffic ticket records in DeSoto County are maintained by the Clerk of Courts office in Arcadia. DeSoto County is a smaller, rural county in south-central Florida where US-17 is the primary corridor through the area. The Clerk of Courts processes all noncriminal traffic infractions, accepts fine payments, and stores citation data that the public can access. If you got a ticket anywhere in DeSoto County, this is the office that holds your record. Staff can help with payments, hearing requests, and general questions about your citation status.

DeSoto County Clerk of Courts

The DeSoto County Clerk of Courts handles all traffic citation records in the county. The office sits on East Oak Street in Arcadia, the county seat. DeSoto County is part of the 12th Judicial Circuit, which also includes Manatee and Sarasota Counties. The county court division takes care of noncriminal traffic cases, while the circuit court handles criminal traffic matters like DUI and driving on a suspended license.

You can walk into the Clerk's office during regular business hours to pay a fine, ask about your options, or request copies of traffic records. Phone calls work too. The staff can pull up your citation by number or by name and tell you what you owe. All traffic ticket records in DeSoto County are public records under Florida law. Anyone can request information about a citation, not just the person named on the ticket.

Note: Citations may take up to 10 business days to show up in the Clerk's system after the officer writes the ticket in DeSoto County.

Paying DeSoto County Traffic Tickets

There are a few ways to pay a traffic ticket in DeSoto County. Online is the easiest. Go to PayFLClerk.com and select DeSoto County. You can use a credit or debit card. A convenience fee applies on top of your fine amount. This portal runs 24 hours a day, so you can pay whenever it fits your schedule.

You can also go to the Clerk's office at 115 East Oak Street in Arcadia to pay in person. Cash, check, and money order are accepted. If you want to mail it in, send your payment to the DeSoto County Clerk of Courts at the same address. Make your check or money order out to the Clerk of Courts. Put your citation number on the payment so they can match it to your case. Under Florida Statute 318.14, you have 30 days from the citation date to pay or respond. A $16 late fee applies if you miss that deadline in DeSoto County.

Traffic Ticket Options in DeSoto County

When you receive a traffic citation in DeSoto County, you have three choices to make within 30 days. The first is to pay the fine and accept the conviction. Points go on your license for most moving violations. The amount depends on the type of infraction. Standard moving violations carry a $60 base fine under Florida Statute 318.18, with court costs and surcharges on top of that.

The second choice is to elect a basic driver improvement course. You pay a reduced fine with an 18% discount and take an approved four-hour class. If you complete it on time and submit proof to the DeSoto County Clerk, no points hit your license. This is the best option for keeping a clean record. But it has limits. You can only do it five times in your life and once per year. CDL holders and people cited for going 30 mph or more over the limit cannot use it.

The third option is to contest the ticket. Plead not guilty and the DeSoto County court sets a hearing. A judge decides. If you win, you owe nothing. If you lose, the fine can be higher than the original amount. Contesting a ticket is a gamble, but it makes sense in some cases.

DeSoto County Traffic Fine Amounts

Fines for DeSoto County traffic tickets follow the state schedule. Base amounts are set by Florida Statute 318.18, but the total you pay includes court costs and added surcharges. Speeding fines start at $25 for going 6 to 9 mph over the limit and climb to $250 for 30 mph or more over. School zone speeding is double the normal rate. Construction zone speeding is also doubled when workers are on site.

• Nonmoving violation: $30 base fine
• Moving violation: $60 base fine
• Speeding 10-14 mph over: $100
• Speeding 15-19 mph over: $150
• Speeding 20-29 mph over: $175

Court costs add $35 to most moving violations in DeSoto County. Nonmoving infractions carry $18 in court costs. The late penalty is $16 if not paid within 30 days. Your total will always be more than the base fine alone.

DeSoto County Traffic Records Access

The DeSoto County Clerk website has information about paying citations and court services. Visit desotoclerk.com to start.

The site provides links to online payment tools and general guidance on how to handle traffic tickets in DeSoto County. You can also use the Florida Clerks and Comptrollers resource for statewide info.

License Suspension from DeSoto County Tickets

Failing to pay a traffic ticket in DeSoto County has real consequences for your driving privileges. The Clerk must notify the FLHSMV when a citation goes past the 30-day deadline. The state then sends a suspension notice. Your license goes inactive 20 days after the notice is mailed. This suspension stays on your FLHSMV record for seven years. Check your license status at mydmvportal.flhsmv.gov if you think a DeSoto County ticket might be causing a hold.

To get your license reinstated after a DeSoto County traffic ticket suspension, you need to pay all fines, late fees, and any collection charges. Then you pay the $60 reinstatement fee to the FLHSMV. The Clerk issues a compliance certificate once you clear the balance. Getting ahead of this problem saves both time and money. A simple ticket can turn into hundreds of dollars in added costs if you ignore it.

Traffic School for DeSoto County Tickets

The basic driver improvement course is a popular choice for DeSoto County residents who want to avoid points on their license. The FLHSMV has approved providers listed at flhsmv.gov. You can take the class online or in person. The school charges its own fee on top of the reduced fine you pay to the DeSoto County Clerk.

Tell the Clerk you want to elect traffic school within 30 days of your citation. Then finish the course within 90 days and submit your completion certificate. The school may not send it for you, so check with them. If the Clerk does not receive proof by the deadline, the court can enter a conviction and add points to your license. It is your job to follow through.

Note: The driving record page at flhsmv.gov lets you check your record after completing traffic school for a DeSoto County citation.

Nearby Counties

DeSoto County borders several counties in the south-central part of Florida. Make sure to check which county is listed on your ticket, especially if you were driving near a border area.

Cities in DeSoto County

DeSoto County includes Arcadia and a handful of smaller unincorporated communities. All traffic tickets in the county go through the DeSoto County Clerk of Courts in Arcadia. There are no separate city-level traffic courts. Every citation, no matter where in the county it was issued, is handled by the same office.