Putnam County Traffic Ticket Lookup
Putnam County traffic ticket records are handled by the Clerk of Court in Palatka. This rural north-central Florida county has a population of about 74,000 people and covers a wide area along the St. Johns River. The Putnam County Clerk processes all civil traffic infractions issued within the county, from tickets on State Road 20 and US-17 to citations in Palatka, Crescent City, and the surrounding towns. The clerk's office provides online tools and in-person services so drivers can take care of their tickets without much hassle.
Putnam County Quick Facts
Putnam County Clerk of Court
The Putnam County Clerk of Court handles all traffic ticket records for the county. The mailing address is P.O. Box 758, Palatka, FL 32178. You can reach the office by phone at 386-326-7600. The clerk's website at putnamclerk.com provides online access to court records and payment tools. Putnam County is part of the 7th Judicial Circuit, which it shares with Flagler, St. Johns, and Volusia counties.
Like all Florida counties, the Putnam County Clerk follows the same basic rules for traffic citations set by state law. You have 30 days from the date on your ticket to choose how to handle it. The clerk's staff can look up your citation, explain your options, and help you through the process. New tickets may take five to seven business days to appear in the system after being issued.
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 758, Palatka, FL 32178 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 386-326-7600 |
| Website | Putnam County Clerk of Court |
Paying Putnam County Traffic Tickets
Putnam County offers several ways to pay a traffic ticket. The fastest method is online through the statewide PayFLClerk.com portal. Select Putnam County from the list and enter your citation details. Credit and debit cards are accepted, though a convenience fee applies. You can also pay through the clerk's website at putnamclerk.com, which links to the online payment system.
The Putnam County Clerk's homepage provides links to all available court services including traffic ticket payment and case lookup.
In-person payments are accepted at the clerk's office in Palatka. You can pay with cash, check, money order, or a credit or debit card at the counter. For mail payments, send a check or money order made payable to the Putnam County Clerk of Court to the P.O. Box address listed above. Make sure your citation number is written on the check. Do not mail cash. AMSCOT locations across Florida also accept cash payments for Putnam County tickets with a $2.50 fee.
Under Florida Statute 318.14, the 30-day deadline to pay or respond starts from the date the citation was issued. If you miss that deadline, a $16 late fee gets added and the Putnam County Clerk must report the delinquency to FLHSMV. That triggers the license suspension process.
Putnam County Citation Options
You have three main options when you receive a traffic ticket in Putnam County. All three must be started within 30 calendar days. The first is to pay the fine in full. This is a guilty plea, and points go on your driving record. Standard moving violations carry a $60 base fine, plus court costs of $35 and county surcharges. The total for a basic Putnam County moving violation usually comes to well over $100.
The second option is to elect traffic school. You pay a reduced fine (18% less than the full amount) and complete an approved Basic Driver Improvement course within 90 days of the citation date. If you finish on time and file the certificate with the Putnam County Clerk, no points go on your record. The third option is to plead not guilty and ask for a hearing in front of a judge. Contact the Putnam County Clerk within 30 days to request this. If the judge finds you guilty, fines can go up to $500, or $1,000 for school zone and construction zone speeding under Florida Statute 318.18.
Note: If your Putnam County ticket was for a registration, insurance, or equipment violation, you may be able to have it dismissed by showing proof that you corrected the issue.
Traffic School for Putnam County
Electing traffic school is the go-to option for many Putnam County drivers who want a clean record. The 18% fine reduction and no points make it a smart choice for first-time offenders and anyone who does not want their insurance rates to go up. The FLHSMV approved schools list has all the providers. Most courses are available online and take about four hours to complete.
There are clear limits. You can use traffic school five times in your life and no more than once every 12 months. CDL holders cannot elect this option at all. Drivers who were caught going 30 mph or more over the speed limit in Putnam County are not eligible. If you fail to complete the course or do not file your certificate with the Putnam County Clerk by the deadline, you face the full fine, a late fee, license suspension, and a conviction with points on your record. Always confirm with the clerk's office that your certificate was received.
Putnam County Traffic Fines
Fine amounts in Putnam County follow the statewide schedule set by Florida Statute 318.18. Speeding fines go up based on how fast you were going over the posted limit. A ticket for 6 to 9 mph over costs $25 in base fines. Going 10 to 14 over is $100. Fifteen to 19 mph over is $150. Twenty to 29 over runs $175. And 30 or more over the limit carries a $250 base fine.
On top of the base fine, Putnam County adds court costs and surcharges. Moving violations add $35 in court costs. Nonmoving violations add $18. A pedestrian infraction is just $15, with $4 in court costs. School zone speeding doubles whatever the base fine would be. Construction zone speeding does the same when workers are present on site. After all the add-ons, a Putnam County ticket for going 15 mph over the limit can easily cost $275 or more. That $16 late fee is another hit if you miss the 30-day window.
License Suspension from Putnam County
Letting a Putnam County traffic ticket go unpaid is a bad idea. Once the 30-day deadline passes, the Putnam County Clerk notifies FLHSMV. The state then mails a suspension order, and your license is suspended 20 days after that letter goes out. The suspension stays on your FLHSMV record for seven years. Driving on a suspended license can lead to criminal charges on top of your original traffic ticket.
To get reinstated, you must pay off everything owed on the original Putnam County citation, plus any late fees, plus a $60 reinstatement service charge to FLHSMV. You can check your license status at the MyDMV Portal or by calling the Putnam County Clerk at 386-326-7600. Once everything is paid, the clerk issues a certificate of compliance and your driving privileges get restored. The FLHSMV traffic citations page has more details on the suspension and reinstatement process.
Statewide Tools for Putnam County
Several state resources apply to Putnam County traffic ticket records. The Florida Clerks and Comptrollers website has payment links for all 67 Florida counties. The FLHSMV driving record page lets you pull a copy of your record to see any points or suspensions from Putnam County or other counties. These tools are free to access, though ordering an official driving record does carry a fee.
Nearby Counties
Putnam County shares borders with six other Florida counties. Double check the county name on your ticket to make sure you are dealing with the right clerk's office.