Miami Gardens Traffic Records Lookup

Miami Gardens traffic court records are filed with the Miami-Dade Clerk of Court and Comptroller. Miami Gardens is the third-largest city in Miami-Dade County, with about 116,000 residents. All traffic citations issued here go through the county clerk's office for processing and case management. The Miami-Dade Clerk operates one of the busiest court systems in Florida, handling traffic cases from Miami Gardens and dozens of other cities across the county. Drivers can look up their cases, pay fines, or request copies of traffic court records through the clerk's website or by visiting the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in Miami.

Where Miami Gardens Traffic Cases Are Filed

Florida runs all traffic cases through county clerks. There are no city traffic courts. The Miami-Dade Clerk of Court and Comptroller handles every traffic citation from Miami Gardens. The Miami Gardens Police Department writes tickets within city limits, and those citations get sent to the county clerk for processing, scheduling, and record-keeping.

The main courthouse for Miami-Dade traffic cases is the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building at 1351 NW 12th Street in Miami. That is where you go if you need to appear in court for a Miami Gardens traffic case or if you want to handle things in person. The mailing address is PO Box 19321, Miami, FL 33101-9321. The clerk's phone number is 305-275-1111. The Miami-Dade Clerk civil traffic infractions page has details on payment options, hearings, and forms for resolving a Miami Gardens traffic ticket. All of this operates under Florida Statute Chapter 316, which governs traffic control across the state.

Search Miami Gardens Traffic Records Online

The Miami-Dade Clerk has a dedicated traffic case search tool. You can search for Miami Gardens traffic court records by name, citation number, or case number. The Miami-Dade traffic search portal is the fastest way to find your case. Results include the charge, the court date, and the current status of the case. Searching is free. No account needed.

The Miami-Dade Clerk homepage offers access to the traffic search tool and other court record services for Miami Gardens and all of Miami-Dade County.

From this site, you can search for a case, pay a fine, find out about traffic school, or learn how to request a hearing for your Miami Gardens traffic citation.

Statewide resources work for Miami Gardens traffic records as well. The PayFLClerk portal lets you pay a citation from any Florida county, including Miami-Dade. The MyFLCourtAccess site provides a unified court records search across all 67 counties.

Miami Gardens Citation Response Options

You have 30 days to respond to a Miami Gardens traffic citation. Three paths are available for civil traffic infractions. Each one produces a different result on your traffic court record and your driving record.

Pay the fine. This is the simplest option. It closes the case. But paying admits guilt. The Florida DHSMV will add points to your driving record. Moving violations carry point values that vary by severity. A basic speeding ticket carries fewer points than running a red light. Non-moving violations typically carry no points at all.

Elect traffic school. You pay the fine plus an election fee and then complete a state-approved Basic Driver Improvement course. Once you finish, the court withholds adjudication on your Miami Gardens traffic case. No conviction. No points. This is popular because it keeps your insurance rates from going up. Florida allows up to five traffic school elections per person.

Contest the citation. Enter a not guilty plea and request a hearing. Miami-Dade County allows drivers to enter a plea of not guilty in absentia for some civil traffic cases, which means you can contest the ticket without showing up in person. A judge reviews the case and makes a decision. If you are found not guilty, the Miami Gardens traffic charge gets dismissed. If you are found guilty, you pay the fine plus any court costs.

Note: Criminal traffic charges from Miami Gardens, like DUI or driving on a suspended license, follow a different process with mandatory court appearances.

Miami Gardens Traffic Fees and Penalties

Florida Statute 318.18 sets the fine amounts for traffic violations. The base fine for a Miami Gardens citation depends on the type of violation. Speeding fines increase with speed over the limit. School zone and construction zone tickets carry higher penalties. On top of the base fine, the state adds surcharges and court costs. The total for even a basic ticket is usually more than people expect.

Copies of Miami Gardens traffic court records cost a standard per-page fee from the Miami-Dade Clerk. Plain copies are typically $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost more. You can request them in person at the Gerstein Justice Building, by mail, or sometimes through the online system. Certified copies are needed for some legal and insurance purposes.

Ignoring a Miami Gardens traffic ticket creates a chain of bad outcomes. The clerk adds late fees. The DHSMV can suspend your license. And under Florida Statute 28.246, the unpaid account eventually goes to a collection agency. That agency adds up to 40% to the balance. A $300 ticket can swell to $420 in collections. Once your license is suspended for nonpayment, you also face a reinstatement fee to get it back. Call 305-275-1111 to check your balance and make a plan before it reaches that point.

Public Access to Miami Gardens Traffic Cases

Florida's public records law is strong. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes gives anyone the right to inspect and copy public records, and that includes Miami Gardens traffic court records. You do not need to be a party to the case. You do not need to show identification or explain why you want to see a record.

A typical Miami Gardens traffic court record contains the citation number, the name of the person cited, the date and place of the violation, the specific charge, the issuing officer, and the case disposition. Hearing dates, plea entries, and payment history are also part of the record. The Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation works with all 67 county clerks to maintain public access standards. Personal identifiers like Social Security numbers and bank account details are always removed before records are provided to the public. Sealed or expunged Miami Gardens traffic cases will not show up in any search.

Miami Gardens Traffic School

Traffic school is a solid choice for Miami Gardens residents who want to keep their driving record clean after a civil traffic infraction. The Basic Driver Improvement course takes about four hours. You can do it online or at an in-person location. Most people go with online since it is faster and you can finish from home.

After completing the course, send your proof of completion to the Miami-Dade Clerk. They update your Miami Gardens traffic court record to reflect adjudication withheld. That means no conviction and no points on your license from that particular ticket. Not all tickets qualify. You cannot use traffic school for school zone violations, construction zone tickets, or citations involving a crash. And if you have already used all five of your lifetime elections, this option is off the table. Call 305-275-1111 to ask about eligibility for your specific Miami Gardens traffic citation before enrolling in a course.

Miami-Dade County Traffic Court Records

Miami Gardens is one of many cities served by the Miami-Dade Clerk of Court and Comptroller. The clerk processes traffic cases from Miami, Hialeah, Homestead, Doral, Miami Beach, and every other municipality in the county. Miami-Dade is one of the busiest jurisdictions in the state for traffic filings. For a complete overview of the county traffic court system and all available resources, see the full county page.

View Miami-Dade County Traffic Court Records

Nearby Florida Cities

Miami Gardens is in the northern part of Miami-Dade County. These nearby cities also have their traffic court records processed through county clerks. Click a city for more about its traffic court system.