Search Pinellas County Traffic Ticket Records

Pinellas County traffic ticket records are managed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller in Clearwater. With nearly one million residents packed into a small peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Pinellas County is the most densely populated county in Florida. The clerk's office handles all civil traffic infractions from St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, Tarpon Springs, and dozens of smaller communities. Multiple service locations, a 24-hour phone line, and online payment tools give Pinellas County residents plenty of ways to deal with traffic tickets without a trip to the courthouse.

Pinellas County Clerk of Court

Ken Burke, CPA serves as the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. The clerk's office runs the traffic ticket division, which processes all civil infractions issued within the county. Pinellas County sits in the 6th Judicial Circuit alongside Pasco County, making it one of the busiest court systems in the state. The Customer Information Center can be reached at (727) 464-7000 for any traffic ticket questions.

Pinellas County stands out from many Florida counties by having four service locations spread across the peninsula. You can handle traffic ticket matters at the Clearwater Courthouse, the Pinellas County Justice Center, the North County Customer Information and Service Center, or the St. Petersburg Branch. This means Pinellas County residents in any part of the county can find a nearby office. Allow five to seven days after getting a ticket for it to appear in the clerk's system.

Pinellas County Service Locations

The Pinellas County Clerk operates four offices where you can handle traffic ticket records in person. Having multiple locations across the county helps cut down on wait times and travel distance for residents. Each location accepts payments, processes elections for traffic school, and can answer your questions about a citation. Here are the offices:

• Pinellas County Justice Center: 14250 49th Street North, Clearwater, FL 33762
• Clearwater Courthouse: 315 Court St., Room 170, Clearwater, FL 33756
• North County Service Center: 3165 McMullen Booth Rd., Fessler Center, Building B, Clearwater, FL 33761
• St. Petersburg Branch: 545 First Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

The St. Petersburg branch is the best choice for residents in the southern half of Pinellas County. Drivers in the Clearwater and northern areas have three locations to pick from. All offices handle the same Pinellas County traffic ticket services, so go to whichever is closest.

Paying Pinellas County Traffic Tickets

Pinellas County gives drivers six different ways to pay a traffic ticket. The most convenient option is online at the Pinellas County online payment portal. A 3.5% convenience fee applies to all online card payments. You can also pay through PayFLClerk.com by selecting Pinellas County from the drop-down list. Both sites accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover cards.

The Pinellas County Clerk's online payment page shows the full details of your traffic citation once you enter your case information.

Phone payments are available 24 hours a day at 727-464-4846. This automated line takes credit and debit cards with the same 3.5% convenience fee. It is a good option if you want to pay a Pinellas County ticket outside of normal business hours. Mail payments must be a check or money order made payable to "Clerk of Court" and sent in the envelope that came with your citation.

For cash payments, Pinellas County residents can use any AMSCOT location in Florida. The AMSCOT fee is $2.50. Drop boxes are also available outside the clerk's office locations for check and money order payments. In-person payments at any of the four Pinellas County offices accept cash, check, money order, and credit or debit cards.

Note: The 30-day payment deadline set by Florida Statute 318.14 applies to all Pinellas County traffic tickets, and missing it adds a $16 late fee.

Pinellas County Traffic Citation Options

Pinellas County offers five options for handling a traffic ticket. This is more than most Florida counties provide. You must choose one within 30 calendar days from the date your ticket was issued. The first option is to pay the fine in full. This counts as a conviction, and points go on your record. The second option is to elect a defensive driving course. No points get assessed if you complete it on time. The Pinellas County Clerk's office calls this the driver improvement course election.

The third option is to plead not guilty and ask for a court hearing. You need to notify the Pinellas County Clerk in writing or in person within 30 calendar days. A Written Plea of Not Guilty and Request for Hearing form is available at the clerk's office. A judge hears your case, and the officer who wrote the ticket may be called to testify. If found guilty, fines can go up to $500 for most violations or $1,000 for school zone and construction zone speeding under Florida Statute 318.18.

The fourth option applies to safety equipment violations. You can submit an Affidavit of Compliance showing you fixed the problem. The fifth option covers license, registration, and insurance violations. If you provide proof that you now have valid coverage or registration, the Pinellas County Clerk can dismiss the ticket with a dismissal fee. These last two options are less common but helpful when they apply.

Pinellas County also handles out-of-county residents differently. If you live outside Pinellas County, you can complete an Affidavit of Defense and file it with the clerk. The court reviews it and makes a ruling without requiring you to appear in person.

Pinellas County Traffic School

Electing a driver improvement course is one of the best options for Pinellas County drivers who want to avoid points. When you choose this option, you pay the civil penalty in full at the time of election. The fine amount is 18% less than the standard penalty. Then you must complete an approved Basic Driver Improvement course within 60 calendar days from the date you elected. That 60-day window is specific to Pinellas County and is shorter than what some other Florida counties allow.

After finishing the course, submit your completion certificate to the Pinellas County Clerk's office. The state has a list of approved providers at the FLHSMV approved schools page. Most courses are available online and take about four hours. You can only elect traffic school once every 12 months and eight times in your lifetime under Pinellas County rules. CDL holders are barred from this option entirely.

Failing to complete the course or file your certificate on time in Pinellas County triggers a cascade of problems. You will face an $18 processing fee, a late fee, driver license suspension, the requirement to repay the reduced amount, a reinstatement fee, and a conviction with points on your record.

Wireless Device and Texting School

Pinellas County handles wireless device violations under Florida Statute 316.306(3)(a) with a separate school option. First-time offenders can pay a reduced penalty of $106 within 30 days and then take an approved wireless communications device course within 60 days. This is not the same as the Basic Driver Improvement course. It does not count toward your lifetime traffic school limit. No points get put on your record, and there are no driver license type restrictions.

This option is only for first offenses. Second and later wireless device tickets in Pinellas County do not qualify. The $106 penalty for first offenses is a set amount statewide.

Pinellas County Parking Ticket Records

Parking tickets work differently from traffic tickets in Pinellas County. You must pay or enter a not guilty plea within 15 calendar days, not 30. Fine amounts vary based on the municipality or county ordinance. Parking tickets do not put points on your license and do not affect your driving record directly. But there is a catch. If you have three or more unpaid parking tickets, or even one unpaid handicap parking ticket, it can block your vehicle registration renewal in Pinellas County.

Some Pinellas County municipalities handle their own parking tickets. The clerk's office does not accept parking ticket payments from Belleair, Clearwater, Indian Shores, Madeira Beach, Pinellas Park, Redington Shores, St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg Beach, or Tarpon Springs. Tickets from those cities must be paid directly to the issuing city.

Note: If your parking ticket was issued by one of the municipalities listed above, contact that city directly instead of the Pinellas County Clerk.

Pinellas County License Suspension

If you do not handle a Pinellas County traffic ticket within 30 days, the clerk must report it to FLHSMV. The state mails a suspension order, and your license is suspended 20 days later. That suspension stays on your record for seven years. Getting reinstated means paying off your full balance plus a delinquent fee and a $60 reinstatement charge to FLHSMV. The Pinellas County Clerk's office can help with the reinstatement process at any of its four locations.

Pinellas County offers a one-time 30-day extension on the payment deadline. You must request it on or before the original due date. This can buy you extra time if you cannot pay right away. Check your license status at the MyDMV Portal or by calling the FLHSMV traffic citations help line.

Nearby Counties

Pinellas County borders these counties. If you were cited near a county boundary, the county listed on your ticket is the one that handles your case.

Cities in Pinellas County

Pinellas County is home to several large cities. All traffic tickets from within the county are handled by the Pinellas County Clerk of Court, no matter which city issued the citation.

Other communities in Pinellas County include Tarpon Springs, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Pinellas Park, Seminole, and Safety Harbor. Traffic tickets from all of these areas go through the same Pinellas County Clerk's office in Clearwater.