Tampa Traffic Records Lookup
Tampa traffic court records are processed through the Hillsborough County Clerk of Courts. All traffic citations issued within Tampa city limits go to the Hillsborough clerk for filing and tracking. Tampa is the county seat and largest city in Hillsborough County with about 414,000 residents. The clerk office in downtown Tampa handles both civil and criminal traffic cases. You can search Tampa traffic court records online, pay fines on the web, or visit the clerk at the courthouse. This page explains how to find, search, and deal with traffic court records in Tampa.
Tampa Quick Facts
Where Tampa Traffic Cases Are Filed
The Hillsborough County Clerk of Courts handles all Tampa traffic court records. The main office is at 800 E. Twiggs Street in Tampa, right at the county courthouse. Under Florida Statute Chapter 316, every traffic citation in Florida must go through the local clerk. For Tampa, that is Hillsborough County. The clerk tracks each case and keeps all the records from the time the ticket is written until the case closes.
The City of Tampa also provides traffic ticket information on its own website. The Tampa city traffic ticket page links directly to the Hillsborough County Clerk's search and payment tools. The city itself does not maintain a separate court system for traffic cases. All payments and court appearances for Tampa traffic court records go through Hillsborough County.
| Office | Hillsborough County Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Address | 800 E. Twiggs Street Tampa, FL 33602 |
| Mailing | P.O. Box 3360, Tampa, FL 33601 |
| Phone | 813-276-8100 |
| Website | hillsclerk.com/traffic |
Searching Tampa Traffic Court Records
The Hillsborough County Clerk traffic page is the best place to start any Tampa traffic court record search. You can search for, review, and pay traffic citations issued in Hillsborough County from this site. The system lets you look up tickets by citation number or name. It is free to search and does not need an account for basic lookups.
You can also use PayFLClerk to find and pay Tampa traffic tickets through the statewide system. This tool covers all 67 Florida counties. Enter your citation number and the site pulls up your case. For people who are not sure which county handled their ticket, MyFLCourtAccess lets you search court records across all of Florida. Tampa cases show up under Hillsborough County.
In-person searches are done at the clerk office at 800 E. Twiggs Street in Tampa. Staff can look up your case and print copies of records from the file. Call 813-276-8100 before you go to make sure you have what you need. The phone line can also answer basic questions about Tampa traffic court records.
Note: The Hillsborough Clerk provides online tools to search, review, and pay Tampa traffic citations from home.
Tampa City Traffic Ticket Information
The City of Tampa traffic ticket page directs residents to the Hillsborough County Clerk for all traffic citation searches and payments.
This city page explains that all Tampa traffic ticket inquiries and payments go through the Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court. It links to the clerk's tools for searching and paying citations in Tampa.
Options for Tampa Traffic Tickets
When you get a traffic ticket in Tampa, the Hillsborough County Clerk gives you several ways to respond. You have up to 60 calendar days from the date the ticket was issued to pay the full penalty. The clerk notes that you were already given an automatic 30-day extension for payment, so the total is 60 days. There are no further extensions beyond this for Tampa traffic cases.
Your main options are to pay and accept points, elect traffic school, or plead not guilty. Paying the civil penalty counts as admitting guilt. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will then put points on your driving record. Electing traffic school means you pay the fine but attend an approved course. The court withholds adjudication and no points go on your record for that Tampa traffic citation. This option is not open to CDL holders or people who have used it more than once in the past 12 months.
If your Tampa ticket is for faulty equipment, you can get it fixed and have a law enforcement officer sign off within 30 days. Then you bring proof to the clerk. For missing license, insurance, or registration violations, you submit documentation showing you were in compliance at the time. These proof-of-compliance options can reduce or dismiss the fine on your Tampa traffic court record.
- Pay the fine within 60 days and accept points
- Elect traffic school to avoid points on your record
- Plead not guilty and request a hearing in Tampa
- Submit proof of compliance for equipment or document violations
Tampa Traffic Court Fees
Fines for Tampa traffic tickets depend on the violation type. Moving violations carry higher fines than non-moving ones. The exact amount shows on your citation and in the clerk's online system. Under Florida Statute 318, base penalties vary by offense. Surcharges and court costs get added on top of the base fine in Tampa.
Red light camera violations in Tampa have their own timeline. The clerk does not get these until they have been converted into a traffic citation after 60 days. Once you receive the ticket, you follow the same process as any other Tampa traffic court case. Late fees apply if you miss the deadline. Under Florida Statute 28.246, unpaid fines that go past 90 days can be sent to a collection agency. That agency can add up to 40% to your total. Do not let a Tampa traffic ticket sit unpaid.
You can pay Tampa traffic fines at PayFLClerk, by mail to P.O. Box 3360, Tampa, FL 33601, or in person at the clerk office. The online system takes credit cards. Mail payments should be by check or money order with your citation number.
Note: Tampa traffic fines sent to collections can increase by up to 40% under Florida law.
Public Access to Tampa Traffic Records
Tampa traffic court records are public. Under Florida Statute Chapter 119, all state, county, and municipal records are open for inspection by any person. You can look up anyone's traffic case in Tampa without having to explain why. Personal details like social security numbers are redacted, but the case facts, charges, and outcomes are all part of the public record.
The Hillsborough County Clerk makes most adult traffic court records available online. Criminal traffic cases in Tampa are also searchable through the clerk's system. If a record has been sealed or expunged, it will not appear in any public search. For older records or cases that are not in the online system, visit the clerk office in Tampa to request a search.
Hillsborough County Traffic Court Records
Tampa is the county seat of Hillsborough County. All traffic citations in the city go through the Hillsborough County Clerk of Courts. For more details on the county system, additional search tools, and other resources, visit the Hillsborough County traffic court records page.
Nearby Cities in Hillsborough County
Several other communities in Hillsborough County use the same clerk for traffic court records. Nearby cities with their own pages include the following.