Lakeland Traffic Records Search
Lakeland traffic court records are maintained by the Polk County Clerk of Courts. Lakeland is the largest city in Polk County, with a population close to 125,000, but the county seat is actually in Bartow. That means all traffic cases from Lakeland get filed and processed at the Polk County Courthouse about 15 miles south. The clerk's office handles citation payments, court hearings, and record requests for every traffic case in the county. Whether you got a speeding ticket on Memorial Boulevard or a red light citation on South Florida Avenue, the Polk County Clerk is where your case ends up.
Lakeland Quick Facts
Where Lakeland Traffic Tickets Are Filed
All Lakeland traffic court records go to the Polk County Clerk of Courts. Florida does not operate city-level traffic courts. The county clerk is the only office that processes, stores, and manages traffic cases. The Lakeland Police Department writes tickets within city limits, but once that citation is issued, it moves into the county clerk's system.
The Polk County Clerk's main office is at 255 N Broadway Avenue in Bartow. That is the county seat. If you live in Lakeland, it is a short drive down U.S. 98. The office handles walk-in payments, plea filings, and document requests for Lakeland traffic court records. For traffic payment questions, there is a separate line at 863-733-8045. The general number is 863-534-4000. Under Florida Statute Chapter 316, the uniform traffic control laws apply to Lakeland the same as every other city in the state.
| Office | Polk County Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Address | 255 N Broadway Ave Bartow, FL 33830 |
| General Phone | 863-534-4000 |
| Traffic Payments | 863-733-8045 |
| Website | polkclerkfl.gov |
Search Lakeland Traffic Cases Online
The Polk County Clerk provides online access to court records, including Lakeland traffic cases. The clerk's website has separate search portals for criminal and traffic records versus civil records. Make sure you use the criminal and traffic portal when searching for a Lakeland traffic court record.
Visit the Polk County Clerk criminal and traffic records page to begin your search. You can look up cases by name, case number, or citation number. The results display the charge, the filing date, hearing dates, and the current case status. Basic searches are free.
The Polk County Clerk homepage gives you access to all court record portals for Lakeland and the rest of the county.
From this page, you can navigate to the criminal and traffic records search or the civil records search depending on what type of Lakeland case you need.
The statewide PayFLClerk portal also covers Polk County. You can pay a Lakeland traffic ticket there using your citation number. The MyFLCourtAccess site is another option for searching court records across all 67 Florida counties.
Lakeland Traffic Citation Response Options
After getting a traffic citation in Lakeland, you have 30 days to respond. The clock starts on the date the ticket was issued. Three options are available for civil traffic infractions, and each one leads to a different outcome on your Lakeland traffic court record.
Paying the fine is the fastest route. You admit the violation and accept the penalty. The Florida DHSMV will add points to your driving record based on the type of violation. Moving violations like speeding or running a stop sign carry points. Non-moving violations like an expired registration typically do not. If you do not want points, traffic school is the second option. You pay the fine plus an election fee and complete a state-approved course. Your Lakeland traffic court record will show adjudication withheld, meaning no conviction and no points. The third option is to contest the citation and request a hearing before a judge in Polk County.
Fines for Lakeland traffic violations follow the schedule in Florida Statute 318.18. The amount depends on the violation. Speeding fines go up as the speed over the limit increases. School zone and construction zone violations carry higher fines. These rules apply statewide, so the fine for speeding 15 over in Lakeland is the same as speeding 15 over in Tampa.
Note: Criminal traffic offenses in Lakeland, such as DUI or reckless driving, follow a different process and require a mandatory court appearance.
Polk County Traffic Court Fees
The total cost of a Lakeland traffic ticket includes the base fine plus mandatory state surcharges and court costs. These add-ons can significantly increase what you owe. The Polk County Clerk collects the full amount.
Copies of Lakeland traffic court records are available from the clerk. Standard copies cost about $1.00 per page. Certified copies are more. If you need a certified copy for insurance, employment, or legal purposes, ask the clerk specifically for a certified version. You can request copies in person at the Bartow office, by mail, or sometimes through the online portal.
Unpaid Lakeland traffic fines cause serious problems. Under Florida Statute 28.246, the clerk sends unpaid accounts to a collection agency. The agency adds up to 40% to the outstanding balance. Beyond the extra cost, the DHSMV can suspend your driver license for failing to pay or failing to appear. Getting your license back means paying everything you owe plus a reinstatement fee. It is far better to handle a Lakeland traffic citation on time than to deal with the aftermath of ignoring it.
Access to Lakeland Traffic Court Records
Florida's public records law, Chapter 119, makes traffic court records available to anyone who asks. You do not need to be the person named on the citation. You do not need to explain your reasons. Lakeland traffic court records are open for inspection and copying at the Polk County Clerk's office.
A typical Lakeland traffic court record includes the citation number, the driver's name, the date and location of the violation, the specific statute violated, the issuing officer, and the disposition of the case. Hearing schedules, plea entries, and payment records are all part of the file. The Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation works with all county clerks to maintain consistent public access standards.
Sensitive personal information like Social Security numbers and financial account numbers are removed before records are released to the public. Sealed or expunged Lakeland traffic cases will not appear in any public search.
Lakeland Traffic School Election
Traffic school is available for most civil traffic infractions in Lakeland. You can elect it when you respond to your citation within the 30-day window. The course is a Basic Driver Improvement class, about four hours, and you can take it online. Once you complete it, you send proof to the Polk County Clerk. The clerk then updates your Lakeland traffic court record to reflect adjudication withheld.
There are limits. Florida caps traffic school elections at five in a lifetime. Certain violations do not qualify, including school zone speeding and construction zone violations. If your Lakeland traffic citation involved a crash, you may not be eligible either. Check with the Polk County Clerk at 863-534-4000 or call the traffic payments line at 863-733-8045 to confirm whether traffic school is an option for your specific case.
Polk County Traffic Court Records
Lakeland is the largest city in Polk County, but the county seat and main courthouse are in Bartow. The Polk County Clerk of Courts processes traffic cases from Lakeland and all other communities in the county. For more detail on the full Polk County traffic court system, office locations, and additional resources, visit the county page.
Nearby Florida Cities
These cities are within driving distance of Lakeland. Each one handles traffic cases through its own county clerk. Click a city to see how their traffic court system works.