Find St. Petersburg Traffic Records
St. Petersburg traffic court records are kept by the Pinellas County Clerk of Court. Every traffic citation issued within St. Petersburg goes to the Pinellas clerk for filing, tracking, and public access. St. Petersburg is the second largest city in Pinellas County, with about 267,000 people. The clerk's main office is in Clearwater, but online tools let St. Petersburg residents search traffic court records without making the trip. You can look up cases, pay fines, and check court dates from home. This page walks through how to access and manage traffic court records in St. Petersburg.
St. Petersburg Quick Facts
Where St. Petersburg Traffic Cases Are Filed
St. Petersburg traffic court records go through the Pinellas County Clerk of Court. The clerk's main office is at 315 Court Street in Clearwater, which is the county seat. Even though the main office is in Clearwater, all St. Petersburg traffic cases end up in the same system. Under Florida Statute Chapter 316, each county's clerk handles traffic citations for all cities within its borders. Pinellas County covers St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, and many other communities.
The Pinellas County Clerk offers a Court Records Public View system. No login is needed to search basic case information. You can look up St. Petersburg traffic court records by name or case number. The system shows case status, charges, hearing dates, and fine amounts. For more detailed records and document images, you may need to visit the clerk office or register for a user account.
| Office | Pinellas County Clerk of Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 315 Court Street Clearwater, FL 33756 |
| Phone | 727-464-7000 |
| Website | www.mypinellasclerk.gov |
Searching St. Petersburg Traffic Court Records
The Pinellas County Clerk website has a Court Records Public View tool. This is where you start any St. Petersburg traffic record search. You can research court cases without a login. Type in a name or case number and see what comes up. The tool covers all case types in Pinellas County, including traffic, civil, and criminal cases from St. Petersburg.
For a quick way to pay a St. Petersburg traffic ticket, use the statewide PayFLClerk portal. Enter your citation number and the site pulls up your case details along with a payment option. This covers all 67 Florida counties. You can also try MyFLCourtAccess for a broader search across the state. St. Petersburg traffic cases show under Pinellas County in that system.
If you prefer to deal with things in person, the main clerk office is in Clearwater. St. Petersburg residents can call 727-464-7000 first to check on a case by phone. Staff can look up your citation and tell you what you owe, when it is due, and what your options are. This saves a trip if you just need basic info about your St. Petersburg traffic court record.
Note: The Pinellas County Clerk's Court Records Public View requires no login to search St. Petersburg traffic court cases.
Pinellas County Clerk Online Portal
The Pinellas County Clerk of Court homepage serves as the starting point for all St. Petersburg traffic court record searches. The site links to the public court records viewer and payment tools.
From this page, St. Petersburg residents can access the Court Records Public View to look up traffic cases, check fine amounts, and find court dates without creating an account.
Handling a St. Petersburg Traffic Ticket
You get 30 days from the date of your St. Petersburg traffic citation to respond. This is the standard window across all of Florida. The FLHSMV explains the three main options. You can pay and accept points. You can elect traffic school. Or you can fight the ticket in court. Each path changes your St. Petersburg traffic court record differently.
Paying the fine is quick but comes with consequences. Points go on your driving record. The number of points depends on the violation. Under Florida Statute Chapter 318, penalties range from $15 for minor pedestrian violations to several hundred dollars for serious moving violations. Accumulating too many points in St. Petersburg or anywhere in Florida leads to license suspension. Keep track of your points if you drive in St. Petersburg often.
Traffic school is a good middle ground. You pay the fine, take the course, and avoid points. The court withholds adjudication on your St. Petersburg traffic case. This option has limits, though. You can use it five times total in your life. And only once every 12 months. CDL holders and certain violation types are excluded. If you qualify, it is usually the best choice for keeping your record clean after a St. Petersburg traffic ticket.
- Pay the citation and accept points on your license
- Elect driver improvement school to keep points off
- Plead not guilty and request a hearing in Pinellas County
- Show proof of compliance for document or equipment tickets
St. Petersburg Traffic Ticket Costs
Fine amounts for St. Petersburg traffic tickets vary based on the offense. Your citation shows the total amount due. This includes the base fine plus surcharges and court costs set by Florida law. Moving violations cost more than non-moving ones. Speeding tickets in St. Petersburg can range from about $130 for minor speeding to over $300 for going well above the limit.
If you miss the 30-day deadline, a late fee gets added to your St. Petersburg traffic fine. Let it go past 90 days and the Pinellas County Clerk can turn it over to collections under Florida Statute 28.246. The collection agency can add up to 40% to the balance. A $200 St. Petersburg traffic ticket could become close to $280 or more at that point. Stay ahead of the deadline.
You can pay St. Petersburg traffic fines online through PayFLClerk or the Pinellas County Clerk website. Mail payments go to the clerk at 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756. In-person payments are accepted at the Clearwater office. Include your citation number with every payment you send.
Public Access to St. Petersburg Traffic Records
St. Petersburg traffic court records are public. Florida Statute Chapter 119 says all state, county, and municipal records are open for inspection. Anyone can look up a traffic case in St. Petersburg without being the person named on the ticket. The Pinellas County Clerk follows state rules about what goes online and what stays at the courthouse. Most adult traffic court records from St. Petersburg are available through the online public view.
Sealed or expunged records will not show up in searches. If you need copies of a St. Petersburg traffic court record, plain copies cost less than certified ones. Contact the Pinellas County Clerk at 727-464-7000 for current copy costs and instructions on how to request records. The Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation oversees how all 67 county clerks manage public access to court records across the state.
Pinellas County Traffic Court Records
St. Petersburg is in Pinellas County. All traffic citations for the city go through the Pinellas County Clerk of Court. For more info on the county court system, search tools, and other resources, visit the Pinellas County page.
Nearby Cities in Pinellas County
Pinellas County has several cities that share the same clerk office for traffic court records. Here are nearby qualifying cities.