Hillsborough County Traffic Ticket Lookup

Traffic ticket records in Hillsborough County are managed by the Clerk of Courts in Tampa. As one of the most populated counties in Florida, Hillsborough sees a very high volume of traffic citations each year. Busy corridors like I-275, I-4, and the Selmon Expressway generate thousands of tickets. The Hillsborough County Clerk of Courts, currently led by Victor D. Crist, runs a dedicated traffic department that handles payments, court hearings, ticket lookups, traffic school elections, and all official record-keeping. The office is reachable by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which is uncommon for a Florida clerk's office.

Hillsborough County Clerk of Courts

The Hillsborough County Clerk of Courts runs the traffic department that handles every citation filed in the county. This office processes fine payments, manages traffic school elections, schedules hearings, issues cash bond refunds, and keeps the official case file for each ticket. Hillsborough County is part of the 13th Judicial Circuit. The clerk's traffic department offers a wide range of services, including ticket lookup, no contest pleas, driver's license issue resolution, and contact information updates.

The 24/7 phone line at 813-276-8100 is one of the biggest benefits for Hillsborough County residents. You can call any time to get info about a ticket, check a balance, or ask about your options. The traffic page at hillsclerk.com/traffic is the best online starting point for Hillsborough County traffic ticket records.

Looking Up a Ticket in Hillsborough County

Hillsborough County has an online tool for looking up traffic tickets. Go to hillsclerk.com/traffic/traffic-department/look-up-ticket and you can search by citation number or by name. The system asks for your date of birth. Select "Open/Reopen" for case status and "Traffic" for case category. This pulls up your ticket details, including the amount owed and any deadlines. It is a fast way to check on a Hillsborough County traffic ticket without calling or visiting in person.

If the ticket does not show up, it may not be in the system yet. Citations can take several days to get entered after they are written. Try again after a week. If it still does not appear, call 813-276-8100. The phone line runs around the clock, so you can check at any hour.

Paying Hillsborough County Traffic Tickets

The 30-day rule applies to all traffic tickets in Hillsborough County. Under Florida Statute 318.14, you have 30 days from the date of the citation to pay or respond. Let it lapse and you get a $16 late fee. Then the DHSMV begins the suspension process. Reinstatement costs $60 plus whatever you owe. In a county this size, a lot of people end up in that situation simply because they forgot about a ticket.

Hillsborough County offers several payment methods. You can pay online through the clerk's website, though a 3.5% surcharge applies to online payments. AMSCOT locations across Florida take cash payments for Hillsborough County tickets. You can mail a personal check, cashier's check, or money order to Clerk of the Circuit Court - Traffic, PO Box 3360, Tampa, FL 33601-3360. Or pay in person at any of the clerk's office locations during weekday hours. The statewide PayFLClerk.com portal also works for Hillsborough County tickets.

When you pay, it is a guilty plea. Points go on your record. Standard moving violations carry three points. More serious offenses add more.

Hillsborough County Parking Tickets

Parking tickets in Hillsborough County are handled differently from regular traffic citations. You cannot pay Hillsborough County parking tickets online. To pay, call 813-276-8100 and use a credit card. The same 3.5% surcharge applies. You can also mail a check or money order to the clerk's traffic mailing address. Include your parking ticket number with the payment. In-person payment at any clerk office location is also an option. Bring your parking ticket with you.

If you want to contest a parking ticket in Hillsborough County, call 813-276-8100, mail a written request to the clerk, or visit a clerk office location in person. Bring the original parking ticket if you go in person.

Traffic Fines in Hillsborough County

Florida Statute 318.18 sets the base fine amounts for all traffic tickets, including those in Hillsborough County. Court costs and surcharges are added on top of the base. A $60 moving violation base often totals $150 or more after all the fees.

Speeding fines scale with speed. The base fine for 6 to 9 mph over the limit is $25. At 10 to 14 over, the base is $100. Going 15 to 19 over costs $150 base. Between 20 and 29 mph over the limit is $175. And 30 or more over means a $250 base fine plus a mandatory court hearing. School zone violations double those fines. Construction zone fines also double when workers are on the road. Given the high volume of traffic on Tampa-area highways, speeding tickets are extremely common in Hillsborough County.

Note: The 3.5% surcharge on online and phone payments in Hillsborough County is on top of the fine and court costs total.

Hillsborough County Traffic School

Traffic school can keep points off your license for a Hillsborough County citation. The program is the Basic Driver Improvement course. Contact the clerk within 30 days and elect this option. You pay the fine with an 18% discount. Then complete an approved course within 90 days. Make sure the completion certificate gets filed with the Hillsborough County Clerk. The clerk's traffic page notes that traffic school is a separate expense from the ticket payment, so budget for both the reduced fine and the course fee.

Rules limit who can use traffic school. You get five lifetime uses. No more than one election in any 12-month period. CDL holders are not eligible. Drivers cited for going 30 mph or more over the speed limit cannot use this option either. The FLHSMV approved course list shows all accepted providers. Most are available online.

Contesting Tickets in Hillsborough County

If you want to fight a traffic ticket in Hillsborough County, request a hearing within 30 days of the citation date. Call 813-276-8100 or visit a clerk office location to set it up. The court will assign you a date. At the hearing, you can present your case. A favorable ruling dismisses the ticket entirely.

The risk is real, though. If the judge finds you guilty, the fine can go up to $500 for a standard violation or $1,000 for school zone and construction zone cases. Court costs are separate. Many people in Hillsborough County hire traffic attorneys because of the high volume of cases and the familiarity local lawyers have with the judges and process. But self-representation is allowed. Hillsborough County also offers a no contest plea option for some citations, which can simplify the process.

Hillsborough County Driving Records

Your complete traffic ticket history is stored by the FLHSMV, not the Hillsborough County Clerk. After a traffic case closes in Hillsborough County, the result shows on your state driving record. Access yours through the MyDMV Portal. A 3-year record is $14.25 and a complete history costs $16.25. The FLHSMV driving record page has more details.

The FLHSMV traffic citations page explains all the options for handling a ticket in Florida. The Florida Clerks and Comptrollers site connects to all 67 county clerks, including the Hillsborough County office.

Cities in Hillsborough County

Hillsborough County includes Tampa, one of the largest cities in Florida. All traffic tickets issued within Hillsborough County boundaries go through the same clerk's office, regardless of which city you were in when the ticket was written.

Other communities in Hillsborough County include Temple Terrace, Plant City, Brandon, Riverview, and Valrico. All traffic tickets from these areas are handled by the Hillsborough County Clerk of Courts.

Nearby Counties

Hillsborough County is in the Tampa Bay area and borders five other Florida counties. Make sure the citation lists Hillsborough County before handling it at this clerk's office.