Pinellas County Traffic Court Records

Pinellas County traffic court records are managed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Clearwater. With close to 980,000 residents packed into the most densely populated county in Florida, Pinellas County sees a high volume of traffic cases every year. The county covers the peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, with busy roads like US-19, Gulf Boulevard, and the Bayside Bridge carrying heavy traffic daily. You can search Pinellas County traffic records through the clerk's website, by phone, or in person at the Clearwater courthouse. All citations issued within the county are processed by this single clerk's office.

Pinellas County Clerk of Court Traffic Services

The Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court runs all traffic court services from the courthouse at 315 Court Street in Clearwater. This is the central office for processing traffic citations, handling court filings, and maintaining traffic records for the entire county. The clerk handles civil traffic infractions, criminal traffic offenses, and related court documents. Whether you got a ticket in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, or Pinellas Park, it all flows through this office.

Call 727-464-7000 to reach the clerk's office. The Pinellas County Clerk website provides online access to court records and payment tools. You can search for cases without logging in. The public view shows basic case details including the charge, filing date, and disposition. This makes it easy to check the status of a Pinellas County traffic case from home without making the trip to Clearwater.

The FLHSMV statewide resource at flhsmv.gov/traffic-citations covers the general rules that apply to Pinellas County traffic citations, including the 30-day deadline, point system, and consequences of nonpayment.

Note: The Pinellas County Clerk shares the 6th Judicial Circuit with Pasco County, but each county maintains its own traffic court records separately.

Searching Pinellas County Traffic Records

The Pinellas County Clerk offers an online court records search that is open to the public. No login is needed for basic searches. You can look up traffic cases by name, case number, or citation number. Results show the charge, the status, hearing dates, and the final outcome of the case. It is free to search. Document copies carry per-page fees if you need them.

The statewide portal at myflcourtaccess.com also connects to Pinellas County court data. Under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, traffic court records are public. Anyone can look up a case. You do not need to explain your reason for searching. Personal information like social security numbers is redacted, but the case details, charges, and disposition are fully accessible.

The screenshot below shows the statewide payment portal where Pinellas County residents can search for and pay traffic citations online.

Select Pinellas County on the payflclerk.com site to find your citation and make a payment.

Paying Pinellas County Traffic Tickets

You get 30 days from the date of your Pinellas County traffic citation to take action. Pay the fine. Elect traffic school. Or plead not guilty. Those are the standard options for civil infractions. Missing the 30-day deadline leads to late fees and a possible license suspension from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The penalties under Florida Statute 318.18 vary depending on the type of violation.

Here are your payment options for a Pinellas County traffic citation:

• Online at payflclerk.com or through the Pinellas County Clerk website
• In person at the courthouse in Clearwater
• By mail with a check or money order to the clerk's office

Paying the fine counts as a guilty plea. Points go on your driving record through FLHSMV. The point values depend on the violation. Under Chapter 316, the state's uniform traffic control law defines what each violation costs in terms of points. Speeding, running red lights, and lane violations all carry points that can affect your insurance rates and your license status over time.

Traffic School in Pinellas County

Electing traffic school is the standard way to keep points off your record after a Pinellas County traffic ticket. File the election within 30 days and pay the citation. You then get additional time to complete a state-approved driver improvement course. When the certificate reaches the Pinellas County Clerk, adjudication is withheld. No guilty finding. No points on your license.

Florida limits how often you can use traffic school. Five times lifetime. Once per 12 months. CDL holders cannot use this option at all. Certain violations are excluded too. If you elect traffic school in Pinellas County but miss the completion deadline, the clerk removes the election. Points go on your record. The fine reduction goes away. Take the deadline seriously because the clerk will not extend it.

Criminal Traffic Offenses in Pinellas County

Criminal traffic cases in Pinellas County require a court appearance. These are not the same as a simple speeding ticket. DUI under Florida Statute 316.193, reckless driving under 316.192, and driving with a suspended license are all criminal charges. The penalties can include jail time, probation, and fines well beyond what a civil infraction costs. Criminal traffic records in Pinellas County are part of the public record just like civil cases.

The Pinellas County Clerk processes criminal traffic records through the same Clearwater office. But the procedures are more involved. You will be arraigned. You may need a lawyer. The Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation provides standards that the Pinellas County Clerk follows for processing and maintaining these records. If you face criminal traffic charges in Pinellas County, getting legal advice early in the process is worth considering.

Overdue Pinellas County Traffic Fines

An overdue traffic fine in Pinellas County does not disappear. After 90 days without payment, the clerk can send the debt to a collection agency under Florida Statute 28.246. The agency can add up to 40% to the amount owed. A $200 fine becomes $280 or more once it goes to collections. Your license is likely already suspended from missing the initial 30-day payment window.

To clear everything up, you need to pay the original fine, any late fees, the collection surcharge, and a reinstatement fee to FLHSMV. The FLHSMV locations page has the nearest offices for license reinstatement in the Pinellas County area. But avoiding collections is far cheaper. Call the clerk at 727-464-7000 before your fine goes overdue if you need help with your Pinellas County traffic case.

Note: Once a Pinellas County traffic fine is in collections, the clerk's office may have limited ability to help reduce the total amount owed.

Cities in Pinellas County

Pinellas County has many cities packed into a relatively small area. All traffic citations issued anywhere in the county go through the Pinellas County Clerk of Court in Clearwater. The city on your ticket does not change where the case is handled.

Other cities in Pinellas County include Pinellas Park, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, Safety Harbor, and Seminole. Traffic court records for all of them are handled by the Pinellas County Clerk in Clearwater.

Nearby Counties

Pinellas County is bordered by Hillsborough County to the east and Pasco County to the north. If your ticket was written near a county line, check the citation to see which county filed it.