Highlands County Traffic Records

Traffic ticket records in Highlands County are managed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Sebring. Situated in the heart of central Florida, Highlands County sees traffic from US-27 and US-98, two major corridors that carry both local and long-distance drivers through the area. All citations issued by law enforcement in the county get filed with the clerk's office. From there, the Highlands County Clerk handles fine collection, court hearing schedules, traffic school elections, and the official storage of every case record. The office on South Commerce Avenue is the central point for all traffic ticket matters in Highlands County.

Highlands County Clerk of Court

The Clerk of the Circuit Court is responsible for all traffic ticket records in Highlands County. This office processes payments, handles traffic school elections, schedules court dates, and keeps every case on file. Staff members can look up your citation, explain how much you owe, and tell you what options are available for your specific ticket. Highlands County is part of the 10th Judicial Circuit, which also covers Hardee and Polk counties.

The Highlands County Clerk's website at highlandsclerkfl.gov provides access to court services and may have links to online payment portals. For direct help with a traffic ticket, call 863-402-6600 during business hours.

Paying Traffic Tickets in Highlands County

You must act on a traffic ticket in Highlands County within 30 days of the date it was written. Florida Statute 318.14 spells out this deadline for all noncriminal traffic infractions. If 30 days go by without payment or action, a $16 late fee is added. The state then begins the process to suspend your license. To get it back, you will need to pay everything you owe plus a $60 reinstatement charge to the DHSMV.

Highlands County offers multiple ways to pay. Visit the clerk's office at 590 S. Commerce Ave in Sebring and pay with cash, check, or money order. For mail payments, send a check or money order to the same address. Write your citation number on the payment. The easiest online method is PayFLClerk.com. Select Highlands County from the list and pay by card. A convenience fee applies to online card payments. AMSCOT locations across Florida also accept cash payments for traffic tickets, which is another option for Highlands County citations.

Paying the fine equals a guilty plea in Highlands County. Points will be placed on your driving record. The number of points varies based on the type of violation.

Note: Allow up to 10 business days after a citation is issued for it to appear in the Highlands County Clerk's system.

Highlands County Traffic Fines

Fine amounts in Highlands County are set by Florida Statute 318.18. The base fine listed on your ticket is only part of the total cost. Court costs and county surcharges are added on top, which often doubles the base amount or more. A standard $60 moving violation in Highlands County can reach $158 or higher after everything is added.

Speeding tickets in Highlands County follow this scale: 6 to 9 mph over the limit carries a $25 base fine. At 10 to 14 mph over, the base is $100. Between 15 and 19 over costs $150. Going 20 to 29 over brings a base of $175. And 30 mph or more over the speed limit means a $250 base fine and a mandatory court hearing. School zones double the normal fine. So does speeding in a construction zone when workers are present. These fines are uniform across all 67 Florida counties.

Traffic School in Highlands County

Electing traffic school is a popular choice for drivers who want to avoid points after getting a ticket in Highlands County. The official name for this program is the Basic Driver Improvement course. To use it, contact the clerk's office within 30 days of the citation date. You pay the fine at a reduced rate, with an 18% discount applied. You then have 90 days to take and pass an approved course. After completion, send the certificate to the Highlands County Clerk. If you meet all the deadlines, the court withholds adjudication and no points touch your license.

The rules around traffic school are strict. You get five lifetime uses of this option. You cannot pick it if you already used it in the past 12 months. CDL holders are completely barred from electing traffic school. If the citation was for exceeding the speed limit by 30 mph or more, this option is not on the table. The FLHSMV approved course list is the best place to find a provider. Online courses are the most popular choice for people dealing with a Highlands County ticket from out of the area.

Fighting a Ticket in Highlands County

Contesting a traffic ticket in Highlands County means going to court. Contact the clerk within 30 days and ask for a hearing. A date will be set at the courthouse in Sebring. At the hearing, the state has to prove you committed the violation. If the judge sides with you, the case is dismissed. No fine, no points.

The risk of contesting is that fines can increase. A guilty finding at the hearing can result in a penalty up to $500 for a standard violation. School zone and construction zone speeding cases allow fines up to $1,000. Court costs are on top of that. You may hire a traffic attorney or represent yourself. Criminal traffic charges such as DUI or driving on a suspended license in Highlands County require a court appearance no matter what.

Highlands County Driving Records

The FLHSMV stores all driving records, not the Highlands County Clerk. When a traffic case closes in Highlands County, the result is reported to the state and appears on your record. Check yours at the MyDMV Portal. A 3-year history is $14.25. A full report is $16.25. The FLHSMV driving record page explains how to order and what each report type includes.

For general guidance on traffic tickets, the FLHSMV traffic citations page covers the basics. The Florida Clerks and Comptrollers site lists every county clerk with links to local payment systems, including the one in Highlands County.

Nearby Counties

Highlands County is bordered by six other Florida counties. Traffic tickets must be resolved in the county where they were written. The county name is on the front of every citation.