Hendry County Traffic Ticket Records

Traffic ticket records in Hendry County are handled by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in LaBelle. This south Florida county covers a wide stretch of agricultural land between Fort Myers and Lake Okeechobee, and major roads like SR-80 and US-27 carry a steady flow of traffic through the area. Every citation written by law enforcement in Hendry County ends up at the clerk's office. From there, the clerk processes payments, manages traffic school elections, sets court hearing dates, and stores the official record of each case. Residents and visitors alike deal with this one office for all traffic ticket matters in Hendry County.

Hendry County Clerk of Court

The Clerk of the Circuit Court is in charge of all traffic ticket records in Hendry County. This office handles the full process for each citation: taking in payments, filing court papers, managing traffic school requests, and keeping records on file. The staff can look up your ticket, tell you the total amount due, and guide you through the options. Hendry County is part of the 20th Judicial Circuit, which also serves Charlotte, Collier, Glades, and Lee counties.

The clerk's office in LaBelle is the main location for in-person visits. Hendry County also has a branch in Clewiston, which can handle some court-related matters. Call ahead to confirm what services are available at each location if you plan to visit in person.

Paying Traffic Tickets in Hendry County

The law gives you 30 days from the date of your citation to pay or take action on a traffic ticket in Hendry County. Florida Statute 318.14 sets this deadline for all noncriminal traffic infractions statewide. After 30 days, a $16 late fee is added. The Florida DHSMV will then begin the license suspension process. Getting your license reinstated means paying everything you owe plus a $60 fee. Do not wait.

Hendry County accepts payment in several ways. You can walk into the clerk's office in LaBelle and pay with cash, check, or money order. To pay by mail, send a check or money order to P.O. Box 1760, LaBelle, FL 33935. Write your citation number on the payment. For online payment, go to PayFLClerk.com and choose Hendry County. Credit and debit cards are accepted online with a service charge. AMSCOT locations throughout Florida also accept cash payments for Hendry County traffic tickets.

Paying the fine is a guilty plea. Points will be placed on your driving record. The point value depends on the violation. Most standard moving violations in Hendry County carry three points.

Note: Citations can take 5 to 10 days to appear in the clerk's system after they are written in Hendry County.

Hendry County Traffic Ticket Fines

Florida Statute 318.18 sets the fine amounts for traffic tickets across the state. These base fines are the starting point. Court costs and other fees are added on top. In Hendry County, a standard moving violation at $60 base ends up well above $100 once the surcharges are factored in.

Speeding fines depend on how much you exceeded the posted limit. Going 6 to 9 over is $25 base. At 10 to 14 over, the base is $100. Between 15 and 19 over costs $150. Speeding 20 to 29 over is $175. And if you went 30 mph or more over the speed limit, the base fine is $250 and you must go to court. School zone infractions double those amounts. Construction zone speeding doubles as well when workers are present. A nonmoving violation carries a $30 base fine, and pedestrian violations are $15. These apply across all of Florida, including Hendry County.

Traffic School in Hendry County

Choosing traffic school after a ticket in Hendry County can keep points off your license. The formal program is called the Basic Driver Improvement course. Contact the clerk within 30 days and tell them you want to elect this option. You will pay the citation fine with an 18% discount applied. Then you have 90 days from your election date to complete the course. After finishing, send the certificate of completion to the Hendry County Clerk. If you do it all on time, adjudication is withheld and no points go on your record.

There are limits. Five uses in a lifetime. No more than once in 12 months. CDL holders cannot use it. Neither can drivers cited for speeding 30 mph or more over the limit. The course must come from an FLHSMV-approved provider, and you can find the full list at the FLHSMV approved course page. Online courses are available, which is useful for anyone who got a Hendry County ticket while traveling through the area.

Fighting a Ticket in Hendry County

Contesting a traffic citation in Hendry County is your right. Call the clerk at 863-675-5217 within 30 days and request a hearing. You will be given a date to appear at the courthouse in LaBelle. At the hearing, you can argue your case before a judge. If the judge dismisses the ticket, you pay nothing. No fine and no points.

The downside of going to court is that fines can go up. If the judge finds you guilty at the hearing, the fine can reach $500 for a standard traffic offense or $1,000 for school zone and construction zone speeding. Court costs are additional. You have the option to hire a traffic attorney, but self-representation is allowed. Criminal traffic offenses in Hendry County, such as DUI or driving on a suspended license, always require a court appearance regardless of what you want.

Hendry County Driving Record Info

The FLHSMV stores your driving record, not the Hendry County Clerk. After a traffic case closes in Hendry County, the result appears on your state record within a few weeks. You can check yours at the MyDMV Portal. A 3-year history is $14.25 and a full report costs $16.25. Visit the FLHSMV driving record page for ordering details.

The Hendry County Clerk's website at hendryclerk.org has local court information. The FLHSMV traffic citations page explains the basics of handling a ticket in any Florida county. And the Florida Clerks and Comptrollers site connects you to all 67 county clerks, including the Hendry County office.

Nearby Counties

Hendry County borders five other Florida counties. A traffic ticket must be resolved in the county where it was issued. Check the citation to confirm the county before taking any action.