Access Polk County Traffic Court Records
Polk County traffic court records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts in Bartow, the county seat. Polk County sits in central Florida between Tampa and Orlando and has about 725,000 residents. With I-4 running through the county and major roads connecting Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Bartow, traffic cases make up a large part of the court workload here. Searching for Polk County traffic records starts at the clerk's website, which has a dedicated criminal and traffic records portal. You can also call or visit the Bartow courthouse for in-person help with any citation filed in the county.
Polk County Quick Facts
Polk County Clerk of Courts Traffic Division
The Polk County Clerk of Courts handles all traffic court records from the courthouse at 255 N. Broadway Avenue in Bartow. This office processes civil traffic infractions, criminal traffic cases, and all related filings for the entire county. Whether the ticket was written in Lakeland, Winter Haven, Haines City, or along the I-4 corridor, the Polk County Clerk is where those records live.
The main phone number is 863-534-4000. For traffic payment questions specifically, you can call 863-733-8045. The Polk County Clerk criminal and traffic records page has online tools for searching cases. The site tells you to use the court record portal for criminal and traffic cases, with a separate portal for civil matters. It is a useful starting point when you need to look up a Polk County traffic citation.
Below is a screenshot of the Polk County Clerk's criminal and traffic records page, showing the search portal options available to the public.
The Polk County Clerk provides separate portals for criminal/traffic records and civil records to make searching easier.
| Address | 255 N Broadway Ave, Bartow, FL 33830 |
|---|---|
| Main Phone | 863-534-4000 |
| Traffic Payments | 863-733-8045 |
| Website | polkclerkfl.gov |
Paying Polk County Traffic Citations
A traffic citation in Polk County must be handled within 30 days of the date it was issued. This is the state standard under Florida law. You can pay the fine, elect traffic school, or plead not guilty and request a hearing. Doing nothing leads to late fees and a license suspension from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
You can pay online through payflclerk.com by selecting Polk County. In-person payments are accepted at the Bartow courthouse. You can also mail a check or money order to the clerk's office with your citation number included. The traffic payments line at 863-733-8045 can answer questions about the amount you owe or the status of a payment.
Paying the fine is a guilty plea under Florida law. Points will be added to your driving record through FLHSMV. The number of points depends on the violation. Under Chapter 316 of the Florida Statutes, speeding, running a red light, and other common violations carry specific point values. Accumulating too many points in a set period can result in a license suspension.
Traffic School for Polk County Tickets
Traffic school is the way to avoid points after a Polk County traffic ticket. Elect it within 30 days. Pay the citation amount. Complete a state-approved course within the allowed time. Submit the certificate to the Polk County Clerk. Adjudication gets withheld. No conviction. No points on your record.
There are limits. Five uses per lifetime. One per 12 months. Not available for CDL holders. Some violations do not qualify. Under Florida Statute 318.18, the options available for each type of violation are spelled out. Missing the course deadline after electing traffic school in Polk County means the election is reversed and points go on your record. Plan ahead and finish the course well before the deadline.
Note: The FLHSMV website at flhsmv.gov has a list of approved driver improvement courses you can take for Polk County traffic school elections.
Search Polk County Traffic Records Online
Polk County traffic court records are public under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. Anyone can search them. The Polk County Clerk's website has a court record portal specifically for criminal and traffic cases. You can search by name or case number. The statewide portal at myflcourtaccess.com is another option for looking up Polk County traffic data.
The Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation supports the statewide records system that ties all 67 county clerks together. Polk County traffic records in this system include the citation details, the charge, the disposition, and any fines assessed. Personal information like social security numbers and bank accounts is redacted from public view. But the core of the traffic case file is open to anyone.
Criminal Traffic Offenses in Polk County
Criminal traffic cases in Polk County are a step above civil infractions. DUI under Florida Statute 316.193, reckless driving under 316.192, and driving on a suspended license are criminal matters. They require a court appearance. The penalties can include jail time, probation, and fines far steeper than a regular ticket. These cases show up in Polk County traffic court records as criminal filings.
The Polk County Clerk processes criminal traffic records through the same Bartow office, but the procedures are more complex. You will be arraigned. You may need an attorney. Criminal traffic convictions in Polk County can have lasting effects beyond just points on your license. If you are facing criminal traffic charges, seek legal advice before your first court date. The courthouse in Bartow handles all criminal traffic hearings for the county.
Overdue Fines and Collections
An unpaid Polk County traffic fine becomes a much bigger problem after 90 days. Under Florida Statute 28.246, the clerk can turn the debt over to a collection agency. The agency can add up to 40% to what you owe. A $150 ticket becomes over $200 once collections get involved. Your license is probably already suspended from missing the initial 30-day window.
Clearing everything up requires paying the original fine, late fees, the collection surcharge, and a reinstatement fee to FLHSMV. The FLHSMV locations page shows offices near Polk County where you can handle reinstatement. But the best approach is to deal with your Polk County traffic fine before it gets to that stage. Call the clerk at 863-534-4000 or the traffic payments line at 863-733-8045 to ask about your options.
Cities in Polk County
Polk County has many cities and communities spread across central Florida. All traffic citations issued in the county go through the Polk County Clerk of Courts in Bartow. It does not matter which city issued the ticket.
Other cities in Polk County include Winter Haven, Haines City, Auburndale, Lake Wales, and Bartow. Traffic court records for all of them are processed by the Polk County Clerk.
Nearby Counties
Polk County borders many other counties in central Florida. If your ticket was written near a county line, check the citation to confirm which county it belongs to. Traffic records stay with the county that issued the citation.