Manatee County Traffic Ticket Records

Manatee County traffic ticket records are managed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Bradenton. This Gulf Coast county has a population of about 400,000 and sits just south of Tampa Bay. Busy roads like I-75, US-41, and State Road 64 generate thousands of traffic citations each year. The clerk's office runs a dedicated traffic division that handles payments, ticket lookups, traffic school elections, and court hearings for all civil traffic infractions issued within Manatee County.

Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court

The Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court runs the traffic division from the courthouse area in Bradenton. The office has a separate traffic division phone line, which makes it easy to get help with citation questions without going through the main switchboard. Staff can look up your ticket, tell you what you owe, and walk you through all your options. They handle payments, manage traffic school elections, and schedule court hearings for contested tickets.

Manatee County is part of the 12th Judicial Circuit, which also includes Sarasota and DeSoto counties. Each county runs its own clerk's office for traffic matters. If your ticket says Manatee County, this is the office you deal with. A citation from Sarasota or DeSoto goes to their respective clerks, even if the locations are just a few miles apart. The county listed on the ticket determines everything. Manatee County handles a high volume of traffic cases given its population and the amount of I-75 traffic that passes through.

The traffic division line at 941-741-4060 is the best number to call for Manatee County ticket questions. The main line routes you through more menus.

Paying Manatee County Traffic Tickets

Manatee County offers multiple ways to pay a traffic ticket. Online is the fastest. Use the PayFLClerk.com portal, choose Manatee County, and enter your citation number. You pay with a credit or debit card. A convenience fee applies to all online card payments. The clerk's own website at manateeclerk.com also links to the online payment system.

You can pay by mail too. Send a check or money order to P.O. Box 25400, Bradenton, FL 34206. Include your citation number on the payment. Do not send cash. In-person payments are taken at the clerk's office in Bradenton. Cash, check, money order, and cards are all accepted there. The 30-day deadline from Florida Statute 318.14 applies to every Manatee County traffic ticket. Let it pass and a $16 late fee is added. Then the clerk must report you to FLHSMV, and the process toward suspending your license begins. With the volume of tickets Manatee County processes, the office is strict about deadlines.

Below is the Manatee County Clerk of Court homepage, which provides access to online payment tools and traffic ticket lookup services.

Start at the clerk's website to find your ticket and choose the payment method that works best for your situation.

Traffic Ticket Options in Manatee County

Getting a traffic ticket in Manatee County means choosing one of three options within 30 days. The clock starts on the citation date. Do not let it run out.

Your first option is to pay the fine and accept the points. This is a guilty plea. Points land on your driving record. Your insurance company can see them, and rates may go up. It is the quickest way to close a Manatee County ticket, but it comes with consequences. The second option is to pay the fine and elect traffic school. The fine gets cut by 18%, and points stay off your record if you finish the course within 90 days. This is the most common choice in Manatee County for drivers who want to protect their insurance rates. The third option is to contest the ticket. You request a court hearing through the Manatee County Clerk. A judge will hear the case. If you win, the ticket gets dismissed. If you lose, fines can reach $500 for most violations. School zone and construction zone tickets can hit $1,000 under Florida Statute 318.18.

Many Manatee County drivers go with option two. It costs a bit more time, but it keeps the record clean.

Manatee County Traffic School Election

Traffic school is a strong option for Manatee County drivers. Tell the clerk you want to elect the course when you pay. The fine drops 18%. Then take an approved Basic Driver Improvement class and finish it within 90 days of the citation date. The state lists approved schools at FLHSMV's website. Most providers offer online courses you can do from home.

After you pass the course, the school gives you a completion certificate. That certificate must get filed with the Manatee County Clerk. Some schools handle that for you. Many do not. Call the traffic division at 941-741-4060 to make sure the clerk received it. If the certificate is not on file by the deadline, points go on your record, fees pile up, and your license faces suspension. Eligibility rules apply statewide. Five lifetime uses. No more than one in any 12-month window. CDL holders are barred from this option. And if your Manatee County ticket was for going 30 mph or more over the speed limit, traffic school is not available to you.

Manatee County Traffic Ticket Fines

Manatee County traffic fines follow the state schedule set by Florida Statute 318.18. Base fines are uniform across all Florida counties. Court costs and surcharges are added on top. Speeding 6 to 9 mph over the posted limit is $25 base. At 10 to 14 over, the base is $100. Going 15 to 19 over costs $150 base. Between 20 and 29 mph over, the base fine hits $175. And 30 or more over the limit means $250 base plus a mandatory court date in Manatee County.

Standard moving violations carry a $60 base fine. Nonmoving violations are $30. School zone fines double. Construction zone fines double when workers are on site. Missing the 30-day window adds a $16 late fee. Given the heavy traffic on I-75 and US-41 through Manatee County, speeding tickets are common. The total bill on any Manatee County traffic ticket is always higher than the base fine once court costs and surcharges are factored in. Paying early keeps the total as low as possible.

License Suspension for Manatee County Tickets

Ignoring a Manatee County traffic ticket will get your license suspended. It is not a scare tactic. It is state law. Florida Statute 318.15 requires the clerk to report you to FLHSMV when you do not pay or respond within 30 days. The state sends you a notice. The suspension takes effect 20 days after that letter is mailed. It goes on your FLHSMV record for seven years.

Getting your license back means paying the full Manatee County ticket balance plus a $60 reinstatement fee to FLHSMV. Check your license status at the MyDMV Portal. The Manatee County Clerk's traffic division can look up what you owe if you call 941-741-4060. Once you pay, the clerk sends a compliance certificate to the state. FLHSMV lifts the suspension after processing. You can also pull your driving record from FLHSMV to check for old Manatee County tickets that might still be affecting your status.

Cities in Manatee County

Manatee County includes Bradenton, Palmetto, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, and Bradenton Beach, along with several unincorporated communities like Lakewood Ranch and Ellenton. Bradenton is the county seat and the largest city. All traffic tickets issued within Manatee County go through the clerk's office in Bradenton.

Other communities in Manatee County include Palmetto, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, and Lakewood Ranch. All traffic tickets from these areas are processed by the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court.

Nearby Counties

Manatee County borders four other Florida counties. Make sure the citation lists Manatee County before contacting this clerk's office about a traffic ticket.