Tallahassee City traffic ticket records are official documents that show every traffic citation issued within city limits. These records are kept by the Leon County Clerk of Courts, which serves as the central records office for the entire county.
Anyone who received a ticket in Tallahassee can search, view, and pay their citation through the Clerk’s online portal or in person at the office on Thomasville Road.
What Tallahassee City Traffic Ticket Records Include
Tallahassee City traffic ticket records hold full case data for every citation written by local law enforcement. Each record shows the driver name, the issuing officer, the violation type, the fine amount, court dates, and the final outcome. These records are public under Florida law, which means any person can request a copy of a traffic ticket record as long as they have proper identifying details.
Types of Citations Stored in the System
The Clerk’s system stores all moving and nonmoving violations issued in Tallahassee. Moving violations include speeding, running a red light, careless driving, and driving without a valid license. Nonmoving violations include expired registration, failure to carry insurance, and parking infractions. Each citation has a unique case number that stays with the record for the life of the case.
- Speeding tickets
- Red light camera citations
- Careless driving charges
- Driving with a suspended license
- No proof of insurance tickets
- Expired registration citations
- Reckless driving cases
- School zone and construction zone violations
Agencies That Issue Tickets in Tallahassee
Several law enforcement agencies write traffic citations inside Tallahassee city limits. All of these agencies send their tickets to the Leon County Clerk for processing. The main agencies include the Tallahassee Police Department, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, Capitol Police, Florida State University Police, and Florida A&M University Police. Each agency uses the same Florida Uniform Traffic Citation form.
How to Search Tallahassee Traffic Ticket Records
Searching Tallahassee traffic ticket records takes only a few minutes when you have the right details. The Leon County Clerk runs an online case search tool that lets users pull up ticket status by name, citation number, or case number. The system is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and shows real-time data from the Clerk’s database.
Online Records Search Through the Clerk Website
The Leon County Clerk website at clerk.leon.fl.us hosts the main case search portal. Users can enter a first name, last name, and date of birth to pull up all matching cases. The system also accepts searches by citation number for faster results. Each search result shows the case status, balance owed, court date, and any open warrants tied to the ticket.
- Go to cvweb.clerk.leon.fl.us
- Click the case search link
- Type the citation number or full name
- Add date of birth for name searches
- Review the list of matching cases
- Click the case number for full record details
Phone Lookup for Tallahassee Traffic Tickets
People who cannot use the online portal can call the Leon County Clerk at (850) 606-4000. The phone line operates Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Clerks can look up ticket status, confirm fine amounts, and explain payment options. Callers should have their citation number ready before calling. If the citation number is missing, clerks can search by name and date of birth.
In-Person Search at the Clerk’s Office
The Leon County Clerk’s office is located at 1920 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee, FL 32303. Walk-in service runs on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors should bring a valid photo ID and any ticket paperwork they have. Staff at the front desk can pull up ticket records, take payments, and set up payment plans on the spot. Public records terminals inside the lobby let visitors search for free.
Cost of Tallahassee Traffic Tickets in 2026
Traffic fines in Tallahassee follow the Florida uniform traffic citation fine schedule set under Florida Statute 318.18. Moving violations start at $60 for the base fine. Nonmoving violations start at $30. Additional court costs and fees get added to every ticket, which raises the total amount owed above the base fine. Speeding fines scale based on how many miles per hour the driver exceeded the posted limit.
Speeding Fine Schedule
Speeding fines in Tallahassee increase based on the number of miles over the limit. A driver caught going 6 to 9 mph over pays a $25 fine. A driver going 10 to 14 mph over pays $100. The fines keep climbing until the top tier of 30 mph or more over, which carries a $250 base fine. School zone and construction zone speeding violations double these base amounts under state law.
| Speed Over Limit | Base Fine |
|---|---|
| 6 to 9 mph | $25 |
| 10 to 14 mph | $100 |
| 15 to 19 mph | $150 |
| 20 to 24 mph | $175 |
| 25 to 29 mph | $200 |
| 30 mph or more | $250 |
Other Common Violation Costs
Running a red light carries a $158 base fine in Florida. Failure to wear a seatbelt costs $30 for a first offense. Driving without proof of insurance costs $60. Careless driving carries a base fine of $160. Reckless driving, one of the most serious traffic offenses, carries fines up to $500 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for repeat offenses within five years.
How to Pay a Tallahassee Traffic Ticket
Paying a Tallahassee traffic ticket closes the case and adds a guilty plea to the driver’s record. Drivers who pay their fine accept responsibility for the violation. Most moving violations add points to the Florida driver license. The Leon County Clerk accepts payments online, by mail, by phone, and in person at the Thomasville Road office.
Online Payment Options
Online payment works through the Leon County Clerk website or the statewide PayFLClerk portal. Both sites accept credit cards, debit cards, and electronic checks. A convenience fee of 2.5% or $5 applies to card payments. Electronic checks cost $1.50 per transaction. Payments post to the ticket record within one business day in most cases.
Pay by Mail
Mail payments should go to the Leon County Clerk of Courts at 1920 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee, FL 32303. Include the citation number on the check or money order. Make the check payable to the Leon County Clerk of Courts. Do not send cash through the mail. Mailed payments take 7 to 10 business days to process, so drivers should mail payments at least 10 days before the due date.
Pay in Person
In-person payments happen at the Clerk’s office on Thomasville Road. The office accepts cash, checks, money orders, and cards. A card processing fee applies to in-person card payments. Walk-in hours run from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday, except for court holidays. Drivers who arrive after 4:30 PM may need to return the next business day.
Traffic School for Tallahassee Drivers
Traffic school gives Tallahassee drivers a chance to keep points off their license. Eligible drivers who complete a Basic Driver Improvement course avoid points on their record. The course also cuts the fine by about 18%. Florida law allows most drivers to use traffic school once every 12 months, with a lifetime cap of five uses.
Eligibility Rules for Traffic School
Not every driver can take traffic school. CDL holders are not eligible under Florida law. Drivers cited for going 30 mph or more over the limit cannot elect the course. Drivers with a criminal traffic citation also cannot use traffic school. The citation must be a civil infraction that carries points on the license.
Steps to Elect Traffic School
Eligible drivers must elect traffic school within 30 days of getting the citation. Pay the reduced fine plus a $7.00 affidavit fee to the Leon County Clerk. Then complete an approved Basic Driver Improvement course within 90 days. Send the original completion certificate to the Clerk’s office. Do not let the school mail the certificate. The driver is responsible for making sure the Clerk gets the paperwork on time.
How to Contest a Tallahassee Traffic Ticket
Contesting a Tallahassee traffic ticket means asking for a court hearing. Drivers have the right to fight any citation. The court process starts when the driver files a written plea of not guilty with the Leon County Clerk. The Clerk then schedules a hearing date at the Leon County Courthouse in the 2nd Judicial Circuit.
Filing a Not Guilty Plea
A written plea of not guilty must reach the Clerk’s office within 30 days of the citation date. The plea can be mailed, filed in person, or submitted through the online portal. The driver should keep a copy of the plea for personal records. After the Clerk receives the plea, the court assigns a hearing date and sends a notice to the driver by mail.
What Happens at the Hearing
At the hearing, the driver faces the citing officer in front of a county judge. The officer presents evidence first, including testimony and any written records. The driver then has the chance to question the officer and present a defense. Common defenses include mistaken identity, faulty equipment like speedometers or radar guns, and emergency situations. The judge decides the outcome at the end of the hearing.
Penalties for Losing a Contested Case
A driver who loses a contested case pays the full fine plus court costs. Court costs add about $50 to $100 to the total. The judge can also add points to the license. For most violations, the maximum fine is $500. School zone and construction zone violations carry a maximum fine of $1,000. Repeat violators face higher penalties under Florida’s habitual traffic offender laws.
License Suspension for Unpaid Tallahassee Tickets
Failure to respond to a Tallahassee traffic ticket leads to license suspension. Florida Statute 318.15 gives drivers 30 days to respond. After that, a $16 late fee applies. After 180 days with no response or payment, the Clerk reports the unpaid citation to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The state then suspends the driver license.
How to Reinstate a Suspended License
Reinstating a suspended Florida license takes several steps. First, pay the full ticket amount plus the $16 late fee. Second, pay a $60 license reinstatement fee through the MyDMV portal. Third, wait for the suspension to clear from the system. The process takes 24 to 72 hours after the state processes the payment. A traffic suspension stays on the driving record for seven years.
Disposition Records and Case Outcomes
Tallahassee traffic ticket disposition records show the final outcome of every citation. Disposition codes include paid, dismissed, adjudicated withheld, and convicted. A paid disposition means the driver paid the fine. A dismissed disposition means the case ended without a conviction. Adjudication withheld means the court found the driver guilty but withheld the formal conviction. Convicted means the driver either pleaded guilty or lost at trial.
How Long Records Stay on File
Traffic ticket records stay on the Leon County Clerk system for at least five years. Convictions for serious violations stay on the driving record for longer periods. Speeding convictions stay on record for 15 years in some cases. Insurance points from a no-insurance ticket stay on record for three years. Older records may still exist in the archive system even if they no longer show in active searches.
Sealing or Expunging a Traffic Record
Florida law limits the ability to seal or expunge a traffic record. Most civil traffic infractions cannot be sealed or expunged. Criminal traffic offenses may qualify under certain conditions. A driver who wants to seal a record must file a petition with the court in the county where the case was handled. The court reviews the petition and schedules a hearing before deciding on the request.
Requesting Certified Copies of Tallahassee Traffic Records
Certified copies of Tallahassee traffic ticket records are available from the Leon County Clerk. The Clerk charges $1 per page for regular copies and $2 per page for certified copies. A $7 search fee applies when the requester does not know the exact case number. Requests can be made in person, by mail, or through the online records portal.
Mail Requests for Certified Records
Mail requests should include the citation number, driver name, date of birth, and a check or money order for the total amount. Mail the request to the Leon County Clerk of Courts, 1920 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee, FL 32303. The Clerk processes mail requests within 5 to 7 business days of receipt. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of the certified copies.
Privacy Rules for Tallahassee Traffic Ticket Records
Florida public records law makes most traffic ticket data open to the public. Personal details like driver license numbers and dates of birth appear in court records. Anyone can request a copy of a public traffic ticket record through the Leon County Clerk. Some sensitive details get redacted from online records, including Social Security numbers and financial account data.
Driver Personal Information Protection
Florida law protects certain personal details from public view. Driver license numbers get partially redacted in online searches. Home addresses tied to commercial driver license holders stay private under federal law. Phone numbers and email addresses do not appear in public traffic records. The Clerk’s office follows all state and federal privacy rules when releasing ticket data.
Common Traffic Enforcement Zones in Tallahassee
Traffic enforcement in Tallahassee focuses on high-traffic corridors and campus areas. Tennessee Street, Apalachee Parkway, Monroe Street, Mahan Drive, and Capital Circle see the most citations. Speed enforcement is heavy on I-10 and US 90 through Leon County. Construction zones around new road projects also draw extra patrol attention from the Florida Highway Patrol.
College Campus Enforcement
Florida State University and Florida A&M University have their own police departments. These agencies write tickets on campus property and on adjacent city streets. Campus citations carry the same legal weight as any other Florida traffic ticket. Students who move away after graduation still owe any unpaid tickets. The Clerk’s office does not waive tickets for students who leave town without paying.
Leon County Clerk Contact Details
The Leon County Clerk of Courts manages all Tallahassee traffic ticket records. The office serves as the official record keeper for every citation issued in the county. Contact details, address, phone, and hours are listed below for users who need direct help.
Official website: https://cvweb.clerk.leon.fl.us/
Phone: (850) 606-4000
Address: 1920 Thomasville Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32303
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Frequently Asked Questions About Tallahassee City Traffic Ticket Records
Below are answers to the most common questions about Tallahassee traffic ticket records, citation searches, payment rules, and court procedures. These answers cover the latest 2026 procedures set by the Leon County Clerk of Courts and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
How Long Does It Take for a New Ticket to Show Up in the Leon County Clerk System?
New tickets take 5 to 10 business days to appear in the Leon County Clerk online system. The Clerk’s office processes each citation by hand before the record goes live. Drivers who try to look up a ticket the day after getting stopped will not find it in the system. The Clerk recommends waiting at least 7 days before searching for a new citation online. Phone checks become possible once the data entry team finishes processing the ticket. If the ticket still does not show up after 10 business days, drivers should call the Clerk at (850) 606-4000 to confirm the citation was filed properly.
Can I Pay a Tallahassee Traffic Ticket Without a Court Appearance?
Yes, most civil traffic tickets in Tallahassee can be paid without a court appearance. Paying the fine is the same as pleading guilty. The case closes once the payment clears, and the conviction goes on the driving record. Drivers who want to fight the ticket must file a written not guilty plea and appear in court on the scheduled date. Failure to appear at a scheduled court hearing results in a default judgment against the driver. A default judgment adds the full fine plus court costs and may trigger a license suspension through the state.
What Happens If I Miss the 30-Day Deadline on a Tallahassee Ticket?
Missing the 30-day deadline adds a $16 late fee to the ticket. The Clerk then sends a second notice giving the driver 30 more days to respond. Failure to respond to the second notice leads to a license suspension after 180 days total. The Clerk reports the unpaid ticket to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, which then suspends the license. The driver must pay the full fine, the $16 late fee, and a $60 reinstatement fee to get the license back. The suspension stays on the record for seven years from the date of reinstatement.
Are Red Light Camera Tickets Part of Tallahassee Traffic Ticket Records?
Red light camera tickets in Tallahassee are handled separately from officer-issued citations. The camera system takes a photo of the vehicle and the license plate, and a citation goes to the registered owner by mail. Red light camera fines in Florida start at $158. These tickets do not add points to the driver license. The Leon County Clerk does process these camera citations, and they appear in the same online case search system used for officer-issued tickets. Owners can pay the camera citation online or by mail using the instructions on the ticket.
Can I Get a Payment Plan for a Tallahassee Traffic Ticket?
Yes, the Leon County Clerk offers payment plans for drivers who cannot pay the full ticket amount at once. Payment plans must be set up in person at the Clerk’s office on Thomasville Road. The Clerk charges a processing fee for setting up the plan. Plans are limited to certain cases, and the Clerk may refuse a plan for drivers with prior payment plan defaults. Drivers on a payment plan must make all payments on time. Missing a payment triggers the full balance becoming due, plus late fees and possible license suspension.
How Do I Find Out If I Have a Warrant for an Unpaid Tallahassee Ticket?
The Leon County Clerk online portal shows active warrants tied to unpaid tickets. Drivers can search by name and date of birth to see if a warrant has been issued. The Clerk’s office also lists bench warrant status for failure to appear cases. Drivers who find an active warrant should contact a traffic attorney before going to the Clerk’s office. A traffic attorney can help resolve the warrant without an arrest in many cases. Drivers with active warrants can also turn themselves in at the Leon County Jail to address the warrant properly.
Will a Tallahassee Traffic Ticket Affect My Car Insurance Rates?
Yes, most moving violations in Tallahassee raise car insurance rates. Insurance companies check the Florida driving record when setting premiums. A speeding ticket can raise insurance rates by 20% to 30% for three to five years. A careless driving conviction has an even bigger impact. Traffic school keeps points off the record and prevents the insurance increase. Drivers who complete traffic school before the conviction posts to the record avoid the rate hike. Insurance points for no-insurance tickets stay on record for three years and trigger even higher premium increases.