Jefferson County Traffic Records

Traffic ticket records in Jefferson County are filed with the Clerk of Court at the county courthouse in Monticello. Jefferson County is one of the smallest counties in Florida by population, but it still handles a steady flow of citations from US 19, US 90, and Interstate 10 traffic. The clerk's office in Room 10 of the courthouse processes all payments, traffic school elections, and hearing requests for citations issued within Jefferson County. Drivers who get a ticket here must act within 30 days or face added fees and a possible license suspension.

Jefferson County Clerk of Court

The Jefferson County Clerk of Court is the single office that handles all traffic ticket records in the county. Located in Room 10 of the Jefferson County Courthouse in Monticello, this office accepts payments, sets up traffic school elections, and schedules court dates for contested citations. The clerk keeps records on file for every traffic case, from the initial ticket through final resolution.

Jefferson County is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit, which also includes Leon, Gadsden, Liberty, and Wakulla counties. Even though these counties share a circuit, each one handles its own traffic tickets through its own clerk. If you got a ticket in Jefferson County, you pay the Jefferson County Clerk. If you are unsure where the stop took place, look at the county name on the citation itself. The Jefferson County Clerk website has details on all court services and how to contact the office for traffic matters.

Pay a Jefferson County Traffic Ticket

You must pay your Jefferson County traffic ticket within 30 days of the date it was issued. Florida Statute 318.14 sets this deadline for all noncriminal traffic infractions statewide. Missing the deadline adds a $16 late fee and begins the license suspension process. That is on top of whatever the original fine was.

The fastest way to pay is online. Visit PayFLClerk.com, select Jefferson County, and the site takes you to the payment portal. You need your citation number to look up the ticket. Credit and debit cards work, though a processing fee applies. You can also pay by mail. Send a check or money order to the Jefferson County Clerk at County Courthouse, Room 10, Monticello, FL 32344. Put your citation number on the payment. For cash payments, visit the clerk in person at the courthouse or use any Florida AMSCOT location.

If you cannot pay the full amount right away, call the clerk at 850-342-0218 to ask about a payment plan. Under state law, clerks can set up payment plans with the court. A processing fee may apply. Paying in full is always the cheaper route, but a plan keeps your license from being suspended while you work through the balance on your Jefferson County traffic ticket.

Note: New citations may take 5 to 10 days to appear in the clerk's system after the officer writes the ticket.

Jefferson County Traffic Citation Options

There are three ways to handle a traffic ticket in Jefferson County. The option you pick affects your driving record, your insurance rates, and how much you end up paying. All three options must be started within 30 days of the citation date.

The first option is to just pay the fine. Payment counts as a guilty plea. The court records a conviction and adds points to your license. A standard moving violation gets three points. Speeding 16 or more over the limit gets four points. Points stay on your record and can raise insurance rates in Jefferson County and across the state. If you rack up 12 points in a year, DHSMV suspends your license for 30 days. Eighteen points in 18 months means a three-month suspension.

The second option is to elect traffic school. This is the best choice for most drivers in Jefferson County who want to avoid points. You tell the clerk you want the driver improvement course option within 30 days. The fine drops by 18 percent. Then you finish an approved Basic Driver Improvement course within 90 days and submit the certificate. If done right, no points go on your license. The state limits this to five times in a lifetime and once per 12 months. CDL holders and anyone going 30 or more over the speed limit cannot use this option under Florida Statute 318.14.

The third option is to contest the ticket. You ask the clerk for a court hearing. A judge then decides your case. If you win, the ticket is thrown out. If not, the judge can set a fine up to $500 for a regular violation.

Jefferson County Traffic Fines Schedule

Traffic ticket fines in Jefferson County follow the amounts set by Florida Statute 318.18. The base fine is just the start. Court costs and surcharges add to the total on every ticket. For a standard moving violation in Jefferson County, the base fine is $60 plus $35 in court costs plus county surcharges. Speeding tickets go higher based on how far over the limit you were going.

School zone violations cost twice the normal fine. So a $150 speeding ticket becomes $300 in a school zone near Monticello. Construction zone tickets also double when workers are present. The full fine you see on your Jefferson County citation already includes all the add-ons. If you pay late, expect a $16 surcharge on top of that total. The Florida Clerks and Comptrollers site has more info on fee breakdowns for all Florida counties including Jefferson County.

Jefferson County Driving Record and License

Your Jefferson County traffic tickets appear on your Florida driving record held by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. You can check your license status and order driving records through the MyDMV Portal. A three-year record costs $14.25 and a full history costs $16.25. These records show every ticket, suspension, and course completion linked to your license number.

If you have an unpaid Jefferson County ticket that led to a suspension, you must clear it before you can drive again. Under Florida Statute 318.15, a suspension stays on your DHSMV record for seven years. To reinstate, you pay off all fines and then pay a $60 service charge to DHSMV. Out-of-state drivers get a clearance letter mailed to them once everything is settled. Call DHSMV at 850-617-2000 or visit the FLHSMV Driving Record History page to get started.

The screenshot below shows the Jefferson County Clerk of Court website where local traffic ticket records are handled.

This is the starting point for looking up any citation filed in Jefferson County.

Traffic School for Jefferson County Drivers

Traffic school is the go-to option for most Jefferson County drivers who get a ticket. The process is straightforward. Call the clerk at 850-342-0218 or visit the courthouse within 30 days. Tell them you want to elect the Basic Driver Improvement course. Pay the reduced fine (18% off). Then take an approved course online or in person at a location of your choice within Florida.

You have 90 days from the date you elect the option to finish the course and get the certificate to the clerk. The FLHSMV approved traffic schools list shows all the providers. Most courses run four hours and can be done from home on a computer. After you complete the course, make sure the school sends the certificate to the Jefferson County Clerk or drop it off yourself. The clerk needs this proof before they can close out your case without points. Do not assume the school handles the paperwork for you.

Note: You can only elect traffic school once every 12 months and a maximum of five times in your lifetime across all Florida counties.

Nearby Counties

Jefferson County sits between Leon County and Madison County in North Florida. If your citation was near a county line, check the county listed on the ticket. You must handle the case in the county where the stop occurred.