Monroe County Traffic Records Lookup

Monroe County traffic ticket records are handled by the Clerk of Courts in Key West. This unique Florida county stretches across the Florida Keys from Key Largo south to Key West, with a population of about 83,000 residents. Much of the county is connected by the Overseas Highway (US-1), and traffic citations are common along this narrow two-lane stretch. The Monroe County Clerk processes all civil traffic infractions, whether the ticket was issued in Key West, Marathon, Islamorada, or anywhere else in the Keys. Online and phone services let you take care of most traffic ticket matters from wherever you are.

Monroe County Clerk of Courts

The Monroe County Clerk of Courts handles all traffic ticket records from the courthouse on Fleming Street in Key West. The clerk's office takes calls during business hours and can help you find your ticket, explain your choices, and process payments. Because Monroe County spans the entire Keys chain, many people who get tickets here are visitors or seasonal residents. The clerk's office is used to dealing with out-of-area drivers and can walk you through the steps by phone or mail.

If you just got a traffic ticket in Monroe County, wait about 5 to 10 business days before trying to look it up in the system. It takes time for citations to move from the officer's hands to the clerk's database. Once it is in the system, you can deal with it online, by phone, by mail, or by going to the clerk's office in Key West.

Paying Monroe County Traffic Tickets

Monroe County provides several ways to pay a traffic ticket. The fastest method is online through PayFLClerk.com. Pick Monroe County from the list, and the site sends you to the clerk's payment system. Credit and debit cards are accepted online with a convenience fee. You can also visit the Florida Clerks and Comptrollers website to find a link to Monroe County's payment tools.

Mail payments go to the Monroe County Clerk of Courts at 310 Fleming Street, Key West, FL 33040. Use a check or money order. Write your citation number on the payment. Do not send cash through the mail. If you are in the Keys and want to pay in person, the clerk's office in Key West accepts cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards during normal business hours. For travelers who got a ticket while visiting Monroe County, the online and mail options make it possible to handle everything after you leave the area.

Note: Payments must reach the Monroe County Clerk within 30 days of your citation date, so mail early if you choose that method.

Traffic Ticket Options in Monroe County

You have 30 days from the date of your Monroe County traffic ticket to choose a course of action. Florida Statute 318.14 sets this deadline. There are three main options. Paying the fine is the first. It counts as a guilty plea. Points will go on your record. The amount depends on the violation type and your speed over the limit if it was a speeding ticket in Monroe County.

The second option is to pay a reduced fine and elect a Basic Driver Improvement course. You get an 18% cut on the fine. No points go on your record if you complete the course within 90 days of the citation date. This is a popular choice for visitors to Monroe County who do not want a traffic conviction on their driving record. Contact the clerk within 30 days to elect this option. The state has a list of approved schools at the FLHSMV website.

The third option is to contest the ticket. You tell the Monroe County Clerk you want to plead not guilty and request a court hearing. A traffic judge hears the case. If you lose, the fine could be up to $500 for most violations. Under Florida Statute 318.18, school zone and construction zone speeding tickets can carry fines up to $1,000. Attending court in Key West may be difficult for visitors, so keep that in mind if you choose this path.

Monroe County Traffic School Rules

Traffic school is limited by Florida law. You can only elect this option five times in your life. You cannot use it more than once in a 12-month span. Drivers with a commercial license are not eligible. If your Monroe County ticket was for going 30 mph or more over the speed limit, traffic school is not available to you. These rules apply no matter which Florida county issued the ticket.

Once you elect traffic school through the Monroe County Clerk, you need to complete the course within 90 days from the date on the citation. Make sure the school sends the completion certificate to the Monroe County Clerk. Some schools handle this step for you, but others leave it to the student. If the clerk does not get the certificate, you could face a license suspension, late fees, and points on your record. Call 305-294-4641 to verify that the Monroe County Clerk received your certificate.

Monroe County Traffic Fines

Monroe County traffic ticket fines follow the state schedule. Speeding 6 to 9 mph over the limit costs $25 in base fines. Ten to 14 over is $100. Fifteen to 19 over runs $150. Twenty to 29 mph over is $175. Thirty or more mph above the limit carries a $250 base fine. Court costs and county surcharges add to these numbers. Standard moving violations cost $60. Nonmoving violations are $30.

School zone and construction zone speeding in Monroe County doubles the base fine. A $16 late fee applies if you miss the 30-day payment deadline. After that, the Monroe County Clerk must notify FLHSMV, and your license will face suspension. Getting that license back costs the full ticket amount plus a $60 reinstatement fee. The suspension stays on your FLHSMV record for seven years under Florida Statute 318.15.

Driving Record and License Checks

If you are not sure whether a Monroe County traffic ticket has affected your license, you can check your status at the MyDMV Portal. This site shows your current license status and any suspensions or holds. You can also get your driving record history at the FLHSMV driving record page. That record shows all points, convictions, and traffic school elections tied to your license, including any from Monroe County.

The FLHSMV traffic citations page has general information about how traffic tickets work across Florida. It covers payment deadlines, the traffic school option, and what happens if you do not act on time. This applies to all 67 counties, including Monroe County.

Cities in Monroe County

Monroe County includes Key West, Marathon, Key Colony Beach, Layton, and Islamorada. All traffic tickets from anywhere in the Keys are handled by the Monroe County Clerk of Courts in Key West. None of the cities in Monroe County meet the population threshold for a separate city page. No matter where in the Keys you received your citation, the same clerk's office processes it.

Nearby Counties

Monroe County borders just two other Florida counties. If you got your ticket near the county line at the north end of the Keys, check which county is on the citation.