Find Franklin County Traffic Records
Franklin County traffic court records are managed by the Clerk of Courts in Apalachicola. This is a small coastal county on the Gulf side of the Florida panhandle with roughly 12,000 residents. Despite its small size, the Franklin County Clerk still processes traffic citations from US-98, local roads, and the bridges connecting St. George Island. You can search for traffic court records by contacting the clerk office directly or using statewide online tools. The clerk handles both civil infractions and criminal traffic matters for all of Franklin County.
Franklin County Quick Facts
Franklin County Clerk of Courts
The Franklin County Clerk of Courts is the official keeper of all traffic court records in the county. This office sits in Apalachicola, the county seat. It is a small office compared to bigger Florida counties, but it handles the same types of traffic cases. Civil infractions, criminal traffic charges, and compliance violations all come through this door. The clerk files citations, manages fines, schedules court dates, and stores case records.
Franklin County is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit, which also includes Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, and Wakulla Counties. Traffic cases are heard by county court judges in Apalachicola. Because Franklin County is rural, the court schedule may be less frequent than in larger counties. Call ahead to confirm hearing dates. Under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, all traffic court records in Franklin County are public and available upon request.
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 340, Apalachicola, FL 32329 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 850-653-8861 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
Note: Franklin County does not have a large online case search portal, so calling or visiting the clerk office is often the best approach.
Search Franklin County Traffic Records
Finding traffic court records in Franklin County is a bit different from bigger counties. The clerk office in Apalachicola is the primary source for case lookups. You can call the clerk at 850-653-8861 and ask them to search by name or citation number. They can tell you the fine amount, case status, and next court date. For copies of documents, you may need to visit in person or send a written request by mail.
The statewide payment system at payflclerk.com covers Franklin County as well. You can look up your citation number and pay fines online using this portal. It accepts credit and debit cards. The FLHSMV traffic citations page also provides general information about your options after getting a ticket in any Florida county, including Franklin.
The statewide PayFLClerk portal shown above works for all 67 Florida counties. This is a useful tool for Franklin County residents who want to handle traffic tickets without driving to the clerk office in Apalachicola. You enter your citation number, see the amount due, and pay right there.
Franklin County Traffic Citation Options
After getting a ticket in Franklin County, you have 30 days to choose how to handle it. This is the same rule that applies in all Florida counties under Chapter 316, Florida Statutes. The clerk needs to know your decision before the deadline passes. If you do nothing, extra fees apply and your license could be suspended.
You can pay the fine, which counts as a guilty plea. Points will show up on your driving record. Or you can pay and elect to take traffic school. This keeps points off your license and the adjudication is withheld. The third option is to plead not guilty and request a court hearing. Franklin County will schedule a hearing for you. Since this is a smaller county, court days may be spaced further apart than in places like Jacksonville or Miami.
Certain violations always need a court appearance. Under Section 318.18, Florida Statutes, reckless driving, passing a school bus, and crashes with serious injuries all require the driver to appear before a judge in Franklin County. The clerk office can tell you if your citation falls into one of these mandatory hearing categories.
Traffic Fines in Franklin County
Fine amounts for traffic tickets in Franklin County follow state law. The base amount depends on the violation. Speeding fines go up with how far over the limit you were driving. Moving violations cost more than non-moving ones. The Franklin County Clerk can give you the exact amount on any ticket.
- Speeding fines: vary by mph over the limit
- Moving violations: fines set by state statute
- Non-moving violations: typically lower amounts
- Late fee: added after the 30-day deadline
- Collection surcharge: up to 40% after 90 days unpaid
If you miss the deadline, extra costs pile up fast. Under Section 28.246, Florida Statutes, unpaid fines can go to a collection agency after 90 days. The agency can add up to 40 percent to the original fine. That turns a modest ticket into a much bigger bill. Pay your Franklin County traffic citations on time to avoid these added costs.
Note: Contact the Franklin County Clerk at 850-653-8861 to confirm the exact fine amount before making a payment.
Public Access to Franklin County Records
Traffic court records in Franklin County are public. Florida has broad public records laws. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes makes clear that all government records, including traffic cases, are available for inspection and copying. You do not need to be involved in the case to ask for records. The Franklin County Clerk must provide them upon request.
Some personal details are kept out of public view. Social security numbers, bank account numbers, and information about minors are redacted. The Florida Supreme Court's Administrative Order AOSC 15-18 sets the rules for what can be shown online versus what must stay confidential. The Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation supports all 67 county clerks in following these rules. Franklin County is no exception, even though it is one of the smaller counties in the state. All traffic court records that are not sealed or exempt are open to the public.
Cities in Franklin County
Franklin County is mostly rural. Apalachicola is the county seat and the largest town. Other communities include Carrabelle, Eastpoint, and St. George Island. None of these cities meet the population threshold for a separate page on this site. All traffic citations from these areas are processed by the Franklin County Clerk of Courts in Apalachicola.
Nearby Counties
Franklin County shares borders with four other counties. If your ticket was issued near a county line, look at the citation to see which county it falls under. Each county has its own clerk office for traffic court records.