Florida Traffic Court Records Search

Understanding Florida Traffic Court

Traffic Court is a solid resource for looking up someone's traffic citations, DUIs and moving violations. They provide a wealth of information about a person's driving history and if they've ever been arrested for driving under the influence. Going to traffic court is not always about looking up records, it is also a place where people go to fight their traffic tickets in Florida.

This type of court primarily deals with criminal infractions, which traffic tickets are, and sometimes misdemeanor cases such as a DUI court case. The court's primary role is to make judgements on these violations and hear the cases where people want to dispute their citations.

What Are Florida Traffic Court Records?

Florida traffic court records are legal documents, that deal with moving violations issued by various law enforcement. They detail the traffic laws that were violated, and outcomes of the traffic court cases for those that want to fight their tickets. These are publicly available records that can be viewed and accessed by the general public. These records themselves contain information such as the nature of the Florida traffic violation, the decision of the court, and any penalties and fines. They serve as a legal record of a person's driving record.

Traffic court records are crucial for a multitude of different reasons. They are used in legal proceedings, insurance adjustments, and can be used for personal reasons or employee background checks. When a person has a FL traffic court records, it means they have been found guilty of breaking a traffic law. This can have negative impacts on a person's driving privileges, insurance rates, and even employment opportunities. Each traffic citation usually leads to one point on a person's driving records, occasionally more than one point such as a DUI. If that person receives too many points on their driving record they may have their auto insurance rates increase, or potentially have their driver's license suspended. Plus, they are publicly viewable for anyone to reference which can means, anyone can see what is in your driving record.

How to Lookup Florida Traffic Court Records

Running a Florida traffic court records search is usually pretty simple. While there are multiple ways to perform this search, some resources offer more information than others. Here are some of the popular ways to access this information online:

Requests at County Courthouse Clerks' Office: The first method to access Florida traffic court records is through the respective county courthouse. The clerks of court manage and provide access to these records. Contact the clerk of court for assistance with records. Remember, some records may only be available for a limited period, so timely requests are crucial. For example, you an contact the Orange County Florida Traffic Court Clerk to obtain copies of records in Orange County FL.

Online Search via FLHSMV: The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) maintains an online database of traffic court records. You can use the FLHSMV website to search for these records. If you go to their website you can run a driving record abstract for a fee. This will give you a complete breakdown of a person's driving history, including traffic court cases where the person was found guilty.

Third-Party Websites: There are also third-party websites that provide access to FL traffic court records. These resources allow you to search statewide with usually just a first and last name. They will also allow you to run a complete background check on someone to reveal all their court case history, including non-traffic criminal offenses. It's important to note however, that these resources are usually intended for personal reference only and cannot be used for official purposes such as employee background checks.

How Do I Lookup My Florida Traffic Ticket?

You can go to the FLHSMV website and lookup your traffic ticket by the citation number, or by your vehicle licene plate number. Another option is to use a public records site and lookup all your traffic tickets, driving record points, DUIs, and your complete driver abstract. Since traffic citations and DUIs are considered public information, anyone can access these using a third party public records website.

Legal Use and Implications of Florida Traffic Court Records

Court records, while public in nature, are still official government documents that need to be used as intended and within the scope of state and local laws. These records can provide evidence of traffic violations, can be used in insurance claims, and for certain types of background checks. If you are using these records for any official reasons you will need to go through a certified provider, as required by law. It is also important to remember to use any information that is obtained in a legal and ethical way, as outlined by state and federal laws.