Sumter County Traffic Records
Sumter County traffic ticket records are processed through the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Bushnell. This central Florida county is well known as the home of The Villages, one of the largest retirement communities in the country. With a population that has surged past 135,000, Sumter County sees a high volume of traffic on roads like US-301, US-27, and the Florida Turnpike. The clerk's office handles every civil traffic infraction written within county lines, and drivers have several ways to pay fines, look up cases, or contest citations.
Sumter County Quick Facts
Sumter County Clerk of Court
The Sumter County Clerk of the Circuit Court processes all traffic ticket records in the county. The office is at 209 North Florida Street in Bushnell. You can reach them by phone at 352-793-0211 for help with citation questions, court dates, and payment details. Sumter County is part of the 5th Judicial Circuit, along with Citrus, Hernando, Lake, and Marion counties. Each county in the circuit has its own clerk, so a ticket written in Sumter County must be handled through the Sumter County office.
When a traffic ticket is issued in Sumter County, it can take 5 to 10 days for the citation to land in the clerk's database. The system needs time to process new tickets from the sheriff's office, local police, and the Florida Highway Patrol. If you just got a ticket and cannot find it online, wait a few more days. But do not lose track of the 30-day deadline. Call the clerk's office if you are getting close to the due date and still cannot locate your Sumter County traffic ticket in the system.
| Address | 209 North Florida Street, Bushnell, FL 33513 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 352-793-0211 |
| Website | Sumter County Clerk of Court |
Paying Sumter County Traffic Tickets
Sumter County traffic tickets must be paid within 30 days of the citation date. This deadline is set by Florida Statute 318.14. If you miss it, a $16 late fee gets added and your license could be suspended. The Sumter County Clerk offers several payment methods so you can take care of your ticket on time.
Online payment is the easiest route. Go to PayFLClerk.com and pick Sumter County from the list. The site will send you to the right payment portal. A convenience fee applies when you use a credit or debit card. You can also pay by mail. Send a check or money order payable to the Clerk of Court to 209 North Florida Street, Bushnell, FL 33513. In person payments are accepted at the clerk's office during business hours. Cash, check, money order, and card are all valid there.
The Sumter County Clerk's website has additional details about traffic ticket payments and case lookup options.
Many Sumter County drivers also use AMSCOT locations to pay traffic tickets with cash. This is a convenient choice if you do not have a bank account or prefer not to pay online. Check with the clerk's office to see if this option is available for your specific Sumter County citation.
Sumter County Traffic Ticket Options
After getting a traffic ticket in Sumter County, you have three paths to choose from. Each one affects your record in a different way. All three must be started within 30 days of the citation date. Do not wait until the last minute, because the clerk's office may need time to process your choice.
Option one is to pay the full fine. This is the fastest way to close the case. But it counts as a guilty plea. Points will be added to your driving record based on the violation type. Fine amounts follow the schedule in Florida Statute 318.18. A standard moving violation in Sumter County carries a $60 base fine. Speeding fines depend on how many miles per hour over the limit you were going. They range from $25 for 6 to 9 mph over all the way up to $250 for 30 mph or more over the limit.
Option two is to pay a reduced fine and elect traffic school. The fine drops by 18%, and no points go on your record if you finish the course on time. You have 90 days from the citation date to complete a Basic Driver Improvement course. The FLHSMV approved school list shows your options. Most courses can be done online.
Option three is to contest the Sumter County ticket and ask for a court hearing. A judge will hear the case. If you lose, fines may be higher than the original amount. Courts can charge up to $500 for standard violations or $1,000 for school and construction zone speeding.
Note: Sumter County drivers who hold a commercial license cannot elect traffic school under any circumstances per Florida law.
Traffic School in Sumter County
Electing traffic school is the go-to move for many Sumter County residents who want to keep their record clean. The election must be made when you pay the reduced fine. Then you have 90 days from the citation date to finish the course and get the certificate to the Sumter County Clerk's office. Some schools file it for you. Others do not. Always check to make sure.
State law limits traffic school to five times in a lifetime. You cannot use it more than once in a 12-month span. Anyone caught going 30 mph or more over the limit in Sumter County is not eligible. The same goes for commercial license holders. If you fail to complete the course on time, the election gets canceled. Points go on your record, and you may owe more in fines to the Sumter County Clerk.
License Suspension from Sumter County Tickets
Do not ignore a Sumter County traffic ticket. Under Florida Statute 318.15, if you fail to pay within 30 days, the clerk reports it to FLHSMV. The state sends a suspension order by mail. Your license gets suspended 20 days after the letter is mailed. That suspension remains on your FLHSMV record for seven years.
Getting reinstated costs more than just the original fine. You need to clear the full amount owed on the Sumter County ticket, plus pay FLHSMV a $60 reinstatement service charge. The clerk provides a certificate of compliance after you pay up. Check your license status at the MyDMV Portal or by calling FLHSMV at (850) 617-2000. The Sumter County Clerk's office at 352-793-0211 can tell you the total balance on your citation.
Sumter County Fine Amounts
Traffic ticket fines in Sumter County follow the same statewide schedule as every other Florida county. Speeding 6 to 9 mph over is $25 in base fines. Going 10 to 14 over costs $100. Fifteen to 19 over is $150. Twenty to 29 over is $175. Thirty mph or more over the limit hits $250. On top of the base fine, court costs add $35 for moving violations and $18 for nonmoving ones. The $16 late fee kicks in after the 30-day window closes.
School zone speeding in Sumter County doubles the base fine. Construction zone speeding gets the same treatment when workers are present. A standard moving violation carries a $60 base fine, and nonmoving violations run $30. These amounts come from Florida Statute 318.18 and are the same in every county.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Sumter County. Check the county name on your citation to make sure you are contacting the right clerk's office for your traffic ticket.