When you get a traffic ticket in Florida, you have options but those options have a deadline. You can attend traffic court on the date assigned by the officer in hopes of fighting the charge, you can pay the fine and accept the points on your record, or you can attend an approved Florida traffic school (if you are eligible) and have the points removed from your record. The deadline depends on the county in which you received your citation. To determine your personal deadline, you should read the options printed on the back of the traffic ticket or contact the Clerk of the Court's office in the county where you received the ticket.

Here are a few options on how to handle Florida traffic tickets:

Pay the fine – This is the same as pleading guilty. Though it seems the quickest and easiest way to resolve a ticket, there are consequences for the driver.

• Since the driver has admitted guilt, they may find their insurance premiums will increase when it comes time to renew the policy.
• Once the points go on a driver's record, they could wind up having their license suspended if they receive more points within a one to three year period.
• A driver with a “Safe Driver” designation on their license will lose that designation forcing them to renew their license more often.

Fight the traffic ticket in court – If a driver feels that the citation was a mistake, they can go to court on the date written on the traffic ticket. To fight the ticket, the driver will need to produce solid proof that they weren't guilty of the charges. In order to do this effectively, the driver may want to consider hiring an attorney who specializes in traffic offenses. Fighting the ticket is a gamble that should only be taken if the driver has absolute proof that the ticket was issued in error.

Attend traffic school – Attending a traffic school has several benefits:

• No points will be assessed against the driver’s record.
• Insurance premiums are not allowed to increase (unless the driver was at fault in a collision that their insurance company had to pay out on).
• The driver can keep their "Safe Driver" status if they had it to begin with.

For some, depending on the type of offense, attending traffic school may not be an option.

Finding the right traffic school means:

• Researching a school that is approved by the Florida Department of Highway and Motor Vehicles.
• Determining whether the school has a class that you can attend within your time limit or;
• Finding an online course that will allow you to attend traffic school at your own pace and on your own time.

Labels: 12 hour traffic school, defensive driving course, driver record, traffic ticket, traffic ticket fees

The first question a driver asks himself when receiving a traffic ticket is: how much will it cost? The fees depend on the violation and in which county the violation occurs. While the state will asses a fine, each county has the option of adding their own fees. Here's a list of the more common Florida traffic violations and a sampling of the fees that come with them.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI) – The ticket fees for a first-time DUI range from $500 to $1000. They increase to a minimum $1000-$2000, if the Blood Alcohol Level is over .15 percent or have a minor in the vehicle. Six points will be added to the driving record. The driver will be required to attend educational courses, pay for and complete six months probation Jail time of not more than one year, and driver's license suspension for up to 180 days. These fees do not include court costs, vehicle impounding fees or increased insurance costs.

Speeding – The fees for speeding in Florida range from $141 to $441 depending on the miles over the speed limit a driver goes. Three points to be added to the driving record. The driver will be required to attend a driver improvement course, also known as traffic school. The court may decide if there is jail time. Depending on the speeding violation, driver's license revocation is possible.

No Driver's License – Driving without obtaining a driver's license is a $101 infraction plus any other fees that are added on by the courts. The driver will be required to attend the necessary driver's education course to achieve license/permit. Jail time is possible and the courts will decide for how long the driver will be prohibited from driving.

Running a Red Light/Stop Sign – Red light running or running a stop sign will cost from $125.50 to $151. Four points will be added to the driving record. The driver may attend a driver improvement course to reduce points, but this will be required for a second offense on red light running.

Speeding in a school zone – School zones are special areas and speeding in them may cost $125.50 to $151. Four points will be added to the driving record. The driver may attend driver improvement to reduce points. Jail time and driver's license suspension will be up to the court's discretion.

There are several other violations, including having an open container in the vehicle (or one capable of being immediately consumed), improper lane change, child restraint violations and littering, each of which carry fines and point violations. To reduce stress and frustration, take a few minutes to review the Florida Driving Handbook and refresh your self on the violations and penalties involved.

Labels: florida driver handbook, florida driver improvement course, florida traffic violations, mandatory traffic school, traffic school, traffic ticket, traffic ticket fees