The Clerk of the Court collects all traffic fines and distributes the proceeds according to law.  The total amount of a traffic fine is made up of amounts required to be paid by Florida Law as well as County and City ordinances.

Upon receipt of a traffic ticket for any violation where points may be assessed, you have 30 days from the date of issuance of the ticket to exercise any of one of three options:

	1) Pay the ticket.		Schedule of Civil Traffic Fines and Costs
	2) Go to Driver's Improvement School.		Printable Driver Improvement Course Affidavit Form
	3) Contest the ticket in court.		Printable Court Election on Traffic Citation Form

If you choose to pay the ticket, points are assessed against your Driver's License.  If you choose to go to school, you must sign the Driver Improvement Course (DDC) Affidavit Form and file it with the Clerk's office and pay the reduced fine (see # 1 above for DDC reduced fine amount due) within 30 days of the date you received the ticket (See # 2 above).  Upon receipt of your DDC affidavit and payment you will be granted an extra 30 days to attend a driver improvement school in the State of Florida.  Failure to attend the school or pay the fine will result in suspension of your license or late fees being assessed.

However, no points are assessed against your Driver's license if you attend a driver improvement school and the state fee may be reduced.  Be aware that often the reduced fine plus the school's fee will equal an amount greater than the original fine.

If you choose to contest the ticket, you must make your request for a hearing in writing to the Clerk (see #3 above) within 30 days of the date of the citation.   You will be notified of your court date.

You may write the Clerk's Office at:

Clerk of Court
Traffic Bureau
P.O. Box 600
Gainesville, FL 32602

Phone: 352-374-3609
Fax:     352-491-4400