Miami-Dade County Traffic Ticket Records

Miami-Dade County traffic ticket records are handled by the Clerk of Courts and Comptroller in Miami. As the most populated county in Florida with over 2.7 million residents, Miami-Dade processes a large volume of civil traffic infractions each year. The clerk's office manages all tickets issued within the county, from citations on I-95 and the Palmetto Expressway to local street violations in Miami, Hialeah, Miami Gardens, and dozens of other cities. The office runs a 24-hour phone system and an online portal so drivers can look up tickets, pay fines, and request court dates at any hour.

Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts Traffic Division

The Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts and Comptroller operates the traffic division from the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building and several district court locations across the county. The civil traffic phone line runs 24 hours a day through an Interactive Voice Response system. You can call any time to check your ticket status, find out what you owe, or make a payment by phone. Staff are also available during business hours for more detailed questions.

Miami-Dade County classifies traffic infractions as either moving or non-moving violations. Moving violations put points on your driving record. Non-moving violations do not. Neither type is punishable by jail time. Under Florida law, there is no right to a jury trial or a court-appointed lawyer for civil traffic infractions in Miami-Dade County. You can handle these matters on your own or hire a traffic attorney if you choose to contest the citation.

Paying Miami-Dade Traffic Tickets

Miami-Dade County has several payment methods for traffic tickets. Online payment is available through the Miami-Dade Clerk's traffic page. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express are all accepted. You can also pay through the statewide PayFLClerk.com portal by selecting Miami-Dade County from the list.

Phone payments go through the 24-hour IVR system at 305-275-1111. You can call day or night to make a payment by credit or debit card. For mail payments, send a check or money order made out to the Clerk of the Court and Comptroller. Mail it to PO Box 19321, Miami, FL 33101-9321. Include your citation number. Do not send cash. In-person payments are accepted at district court locations across Miami-Dade County during regular business hours.

The Miami-Dade Clerk also has an online traffic infractions system where you can search for your ticket and see the exact amount due. This tool lets you look up citations by number and view all the details before you pay.

The online system at Miami-Dade's civil infractions portal shows your current balance, any late fees, and what options are still available for your ticket.

Note: It may take 5 to 10 days after a traffic stop for your Miami-Dade County citation to appear in the clerk's system.

Miami-Dade Traffic Citation Options

Under Florida Statute 318.14, you have 30 days from the date on your Miami-Dade County ticket to choose how to deal with it. The options are the same across Florida. Pay the fine. Elect traffic school. Or contest it in court. Each has different costs and consequences for your driving record.

Paying the fine is the simplest path. Points will be added to your record. Traffic school election gives you an 18% break on the fine, and no points go on your record if you finish the course on time. But traffic school does not apply to every type of violation in Miami-Dade County. Tag violations, registration issues, driver license violations, PIP insurance tickets, toll violations, and red light camera tickets are not eligible for the school election. Commercial license holders also cannot use this option.

Contesting a Miami-Dade County traffic ticket means asking the clerk for a court hearing. If you are still within the 30-day window, you can submit the request in person, by mail, by phone, or online. If your ticket is between 31 and 180 days old, you must pay a $16 late fee to get the case set for court. After 180 days, you need to file a written motion with an administrative traffic judge explaining why you failed to act sooner. The motion goes through the Miami-Dade Clerk's office.

Court Hearings for Miami-Dade Tickets

If you plead not guilty to a Miami-Dade County traffic ticket, the clerk sets a court date. You show up, and a traffic judge hears your side and the officer's side. If you cannot attend court in person, Miami-Dade County allows a Plea of Not Guilty In Absentia. You post a bond by mail using a cashier's check or money order for the civil penalty plus the clerk's fee. Include a notarized affidavit of defense with your version of events. Mail everything to the Clerk of the Court and Comptroller at PO Box 19321, Miami, Florida 33101-9321.

You can also submit documents through the E-Portal at myflcourtaccess.com. File as a self-represented litigant. This works for motions, affidavits, and other court papers related to your Miami-Dade County traffic case. The system accepts electronic filings around the clock.

Note: If you lose at trial in Miami-Dade County, the court can set fines up to $500 for most violations and up to $1,000 for school zone or construction zone speeding under Florida Statute 318.18.

Miami-Dade Compliance Violations

Some Miami-Dade County traffic tickets can be dismissed if you show proof you had valid documents before the citation was issued. This applies to tickets for expired driver's licenses (less than 4 months expired), registration violations, PIP insurance violations, and defective equipment. If you can prove your license, registration, or insurance was valid on the date of the stop, the Miami-Dade Clerk can dismiss the ticket. A dismissal fee is still required.

To get a compliance dismissal, bring or mail proof of valid documentation to the Miami-Dade Clerk's office. The document must show it was in effect before the date on your ticket. This is a useful path for Miami-Dade County drivers who simply forgot to carry their updated cards during the traffic stop. The clerk's traffic page at miamidadeclerk.gov has the full details on what qualifies for compliance dismissal.

Miami-Dade Traffic Ticket Fines

Fine amounts in Miami-Dade County follow the statewide schedule under Florida Statute 318.18. Speeding fines scale with how fast you were going over the limit. Six to 9 mph over is $25. Ten to 14 over costs $100. Fifteen to 19 is $150. Twenty to 29 over runs $175. Thirty mph or more above the limit carries a $250 base fine. Court costs and county surcharges add to these amounts in Miami-Dade County.

Standard moving violations have a $60 base fine. Nonmoving violations are $30. School zone speeding in Miami-Dade County doubles the base fine. Construction zone speeding does the same when workers are on site. A $16 late fee applies if you miss the 30-day deadline. After that, the Miami-Dade Clerk reports it to FLHSMV and your license faces suspension under Florida Statute 318.15.

Statewide Resources for Miami-Dade

The FLHSMV traffic citations page covers how traffic tickets work statewide, including Miami-Dade County. Check your driving record at the FLHSMV driving record page to see if points from Miami-Dade citations have been posted. The MyDMV Portal lets you verify your license status if you are worried about a suspension from a Miami-Dade County traffic ticket.

Cities in Miami-Dade County

Miami-Dade County contains dozens of cities and towns. All traffic tickets from anywhere in the county are processed by the Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts. These major cities have their own pages with local details:

Other communities in Miami-Dade include Coral Gables, Doral, Kendall, North Miami, Aventura, Sweetwater, and many more. Traffic citations from all these areas are handled by the same Miami-Dade County Clerk's office.

Nearby Counties

Miami-Dade County borders three other Florida counties. Make sure you know which county issued your ticket before contacting a clerk's office.