Lee County Traffic Court Records

Lee County traffic court records are managed by the Clerk of Court in Fort Myers. With a population around 780,000, Lee County is one of the largest counties on Florida's Gulf Coast. The clerk processes thousands of traffic citations each year from Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Bonita Springs, and everywhere else in the county. Searching for traffic court records in Lee County can be done online through the clerk's website or the statewide court portal. You can also call the clerk's office toll-free at 1-800-748-9110 for case information, making it straightforward to check on a citation no matter where you are.

Lee County Clerk of Court Office

The Lee County Clerk of Court handles all traffic citation processing for the county. The main office is in Fort Myers. This is a large operation that deals with a high volume of cases given Lee County's size. Staff process new citations, manage court calendars, collect fines, and respond to record requests. Every traffic ticket written in Lee County ends up in this office's system.

The Lee County Clerk website provides online access to court records, payment tools, and general information about the office. You can look up traffic cases, check fine amounts, and find out your next court date from the website. The toll-free phone line makes it easy to get help from anywhere. Walk-in service is available at the Fort Myers courthouse for people who prefer to handle things in person. The clerk also provides services at satellite locations throughout Lee County to serve the spread-out population.

Note: Lee County offers a toll-free number, which is helpful if you are calling from outside the area about a traffic citation.

How to Search Lee County Traffic Records

Lee County gives you several ways to search for traffic court records. The Lee County Clerk's website has a case search tool where you can look up records by name or case number. This covers civil traffic infractions, criminal traffic offenses, and all other case types filed in the county. Results show filing dates, charges, and current case status. It is the most direct way to search Lee County traffic court records from home.

The statewide MyFloridaCourtAccess portal is another option. It covers all 67 Florida counties, including Lee County. You can search by name or case number here as well. The results are similar but come through the state system rather than the county's own site. For people searching records across multiple counties, the statewide portal is more convenient than going to each county site separately.

The FLHSMV traffic citations page provides information about how traffic tickets work in Florida. The screenshot below shows the statewide FLHSMV traffic citations page that covers the options available to drivers in all Florida counties, including Lee County.

This page explains the 30-day deadline, your citation options, and how points work. For Lee County-specific info, the clerk's office is your best resource. You can also pay your Lee County traffic fine online through PayFLClerk, which handles payments for every county in the state.

Traffic Citation Options in Lee County

A traffic ticket in Lee County starts a 30-day clock. Under Florida Statute Chapter 316, you must respond within that window. The Lee County Clerk enforces these deadlines strictly. Missing the deadline means extra fees and possible license trouble with FLHSMV.

Paying the fine is option one. It counts as a guilty plea. Points go on your driving record. This is the simplest path but has long-term effects on your license and insurance. Option two is to pay and elect traffic school. You plead no contest and the court withholds adjudication. No points get added to your record. The Lee County Clerk gives you time to finish an approved driver improvement course after you elect this option. It is only available a limited number of times under Florida law. You can elect traffic school once per year and up to five times in your life.

Option three is pleading not guilty and asking for a court hearing. File your plea within 30 days at the Lee County Clerk's office. The court sets a hearing date. At the hearing, you argue your case before a judge. Under Florida Statute 318.18, penalty amounts vary based on the violation type and the option you choose in Lee County. Some serious offenses like reckless driving and DUI require a court appearance no matter what.

Lee County Traffic Fines and Collections

Fine amounts for Lee County traffic citations vary by offense type. Speeding tickets cost differently depending on how fast you were going. Red light violations, failure to stop, and equipment violations each have their own fine levels. The Lee County Clerk collects all traffic fines. You can pay online through the clerk's website or PayFLClerk, by mail, or at the Fort Myers courthouse.

Fines left unpaid for more than 90 days get sent to collections. Florida Statute 28.246 authorizes this step. The collection agency can add up to 40% to your balance. That turns a $250 fine into $350. FLHSMV also suspends your driver license for the unpaid Lee County ticket. Getting your license restored requires clearing the full balance plus paying a reinstatement fee to FLHSMV. Act on your Lee County traffic citation well before the 90-day collections deadline.

Note: Payment of a Lee County traffic fine counts as a conviction, and points will be assessed to your driving record by the state.

Public Records in Lee County

Traffic court records in Lee County are public. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes says all government records are open for inspection by any person. That includes every traffic case in Lee County. You do not need to be involved in the case to look at it. The law is broad and covers all types of court records.

The Florida Supreme Court has directed that adult traffic court cases be accessible online, including actual court documents. Lee County follows this directive through its website and the statewide court access portal. Personal details like social security numbers and bank accounts are redacted from public copies. But the facts of any Lee County traffic case, the charges, court dates, fines, and outcomes, are all part of the public record. The Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation sets standards for public access, and Lee County operates under these rules.

Lee County Traffic Court Process

Traffic cases in Lee County follow a standard path from citation to resolution. An officer writes the ticket. It goes to the clerk within a few days. The clerk enters it into the system. From there, you have 30 days to respond. The entire case becomes part of the Lee County traffic court records, no matter which option you pick.

If you contest the ticket, the Lee County court sets a hearing date at the Fort Myers courthouse. Both sides get to present their case. The officer who wrote the citation may testify. You can bring witnesses and evidence. The judge rules right there in most cases. A guilty finding means fines and court costs. A not guilty finding dismisses the charges. The full record of the proceeding stays in the Lee County traffic court system as a permanent document. These records are searchable through the clerk's website, the statewide portal, or by visiting the office in person at any time.

Cities in Lee County

Lee County is home to several large cities. Cape Coral is the biggest by population, followed by Lehigh Acres and Fort Myers. All traffic citations issued in these cities and everywhere else in Lee County are processed through the Lee County Clerk of Court in Fort Myers.

Other communities in Lee County include Bonita Springs, Estero, Sanibel, and Cape Coral. All traffic cases from these areas go through the same Lee County Clerk of Court office.

Nearby Counties

Lee County borders these counties in southwest Florida. If you got a ticket near a county line, verify which county's clerk has your case before taking action.