West Palm Beach Traffic Court Records

West Palm Beach traffic court records are filed and stored at the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court and Comptroller. As the county seat, West Palm Beach is home to the main courthouse where all traffic cases for Palm Beach County get processed. The clerk handles everything from simple speeding tickets to more serious moving violations. With a population of roughly 128,000, West Palm Beach generates a steady flow of traffic citations each year. You can search for cases, pay fines, and request copies of records through the clerk's office or its online portal.

Where West Palm Beach Traffic Cases Are Filed

Florida has no city-level traffic courts. Every traffic citation issued in West Palm Beach goes to the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court and Comptroller for processing. The clerk logs the case, sets hearing dates if needed, and collects any fines. This office is the sole custodian of West Palm Beach traffic court records under state law.

The main clerk's office sits at 205 N. Dixie Highway in downtown West Palm Beach. Since this is the county seat, you don't have to travel far to handle a traffic case in person. The building is easy to find, right in the heart of the city. Walk-in service is available for paying fines, filing pleas, and picking up copies of court documents. If you prefer to send something by mail, use P.O. Box 3544, West Palm Beach, FL 33402. Under Florida Statute Chapter 316, the same traffic laws that apply across the state also govern West Palm Beach roads.

Search West Palm Beach Traffic Records Online

The Palm Beach County Clerk has an online court records search tool. You can look up any West Palm Beach traffic court record by name, case number, or citation number. The results will show the charge, the date of the violation, and the current status of the case. Searching is free. You do not need an account to look up basic case information.

The clerk's traffic ticket portal is at mypalmbeachclerk.com. This page has links to search court records, search official records, and manage your traffic case. From there, you can pay a fine, elect traffic school, or request a court hearing.

The statewide portal at payflclerk.com also covers Palm Beach County. You can use it to pay a West Palm Beach traffic citation by entering your citation number. The MyFLCourtAccess site lets you search court records from all 67 Florida counties in one place. Both tools are good backups if the local clerk site is down.

You can view the statewide payment portal used by West Palm Beach and all other Florida cities below.

This site connects directly to the Palm Beach County Clerk system, so your payment posts to your West Palm Beach traffic case right away.

West Palm Beach Traffic Citation Options

When you get a traffic ticket in West Palm Beach, you have 30 days to respond. That is the deadline. Miss it and things get worse fast. Late fees get added. The DHSMV can suspend your license. And if the fine stays unpaid past 90 days, the clerk must send it to collections.

You have three basic options for a civil traffic infraction in West Palm Beach. First, you can pay the fine. Paying means you admit guilt and accept the points on your driving record. The Florida DHSMV tracks points for all moving violations. Second, you can elect traffic school. This lets you avoid points by completing a state-approved driving course. You still pay the fine, but the violation won't add points to your license. Third, you can contest the ticket and request a court hearing. A judge will hear your case at the Palm Beach County courthouse in West Palm Beach.

The penalties for traffic violations in West Palm Beach are set by Florida Statute 318.18. Fines vary by violation type. Speeding fines depend on how many miles per hour over the limit you were going. Non-moving violations like expired tags cost less than moving violations like running a red light.

Note: Paying a West Palm Beach traffic citation is treated as a guilty plea under Florida law and will appear on your driving record.

Palm Beach County Traffic Court Fees

The cost of a West Palm Beach traffic ticket depends on what you were cited for. Moving violations carry higher fines than non-moving ones. School zone violations and construction zone violations can double the fine amount. The Palm Beach County Clerk collects all fines and surcharges.

If you need copies of your West Palm Beach traffic court records, expect to pay a per-page fee. Plain copies are typically $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost more. The clerk can also provide certified driving records for a fee. These are useful for insurance purposes or if you need to prove your driving history for employment.

Unpaid fines create real problems. Under Florida Statute 28.246, the clerk must send unpaid fines to a collection agency after a certain period. The collection agency can add up to 40% to your balance. A $150 ticket can balloon into more than $200 quickly. On top of that, the DHSMV may suspend your driving privilege for failure to pay. It is much cheaper and easier to deal with a West Palm Beach traffic ticket on time than to let it linger.

Public Access to West Palm Beach Traffic Records

Florida has one of the strongest public records laws in the country. Under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, anyone can request and inspect public records, including West Palm Beach traffic court records. You do not need to explain why you want to see them. You do not need to be a party to the case.

The types of information available in a West Palm Beach traffic court record include the citation number, the name of the person cited, the date and location of the violation, the specific charge, the officer who issued the ticket, and the outcome of the case. Court hearing dates, plea entries, and fine payment status are all part of the public record as well. Personal details like Social Security numbers and bank account numbers are not included in what the public can see.

The Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation supports all 67 county clerks in maintaining public access to court records. If you run into trouble finding a West Palm Beach traffic case online, you can always call the Palm Beach County Clerk at 561-355-2523 for help.

Note: Sealed or expunged records will not appear in any public search of West Palm Beach traffic court cases.

West Palm Beach Traffic School

Traffic school is a popular choice for West Palm Beach drivers who want to avoid points on their license. If you elect traffic school, you must complete a state-approved Basic Driver Improvement course within the time frame set by the court. The course can be done online or in a classroom. It usually takes about four hours.

You can only elect traffic school a limited number of times. Florida law allows it up to five times in your lifetime. You also cannot use traffic school if you were cited in a school zone or construction zone, or if the violation was criminal. Once you finish the course, send proof of completion to the Palm Beach County Clerk. They will update your West Palm Beach traffic court record to reflect the election and withhold adjudication. That means no points and no conviction on your record for that particular ticket.

Palm Beach County Traffic Court Records

West Palm Beach is the county seat of Palm Beach County. All traffic citations from the city are handled by the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court and Comptroller. The clerk also processes traffic cases from Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, and dozens of other communities within the county. Visit the full county page for more on how the Palm Beach County traffic court system works.

View Palm Beach County Traffic Court Records

Nearby Florida Cities

Several other cities near West Palm Beach also have traffic court records processed through county clerks. If you got a ticket in a neighboring city, you can find information on that city's page below.