Union County Traffic Court Records

Union County traffic court records are kept by the Clerk of Courts in Lake Butler. This is one of Florida's smallest counties, with a population around 16,000. Despite the small size, traffic citations from SR-121, SR-100, and local roads in Union County still need to be properly handled through the clerk's office. You can search for a citation, check case status, and pay fines through the clerk or the statewide payment system. Finding your Union County traffic court records starts with a call to the clerk or a quick online search through available tools.

Union County Clerk of Courts

The Union County Clerk of Courts manages all traffic citation processing for the county. The office sits on West Main Street in Lake Butler. Every ticket issued in Union County, from the sheriff's office, local police, or the Florida Highway Patrol, gets filed here. Staff can help you understand your options, find your court date, or check on the status of a traffic case. They process civil traffic infractions and criminal traffic offenses.

Contact the Union County Clerk at 386-496-3711 or visit the Lake Butler office during business hours. For online payment of traffic fines, use the statewide PayFLClerk portal which covers all 67 Florida counties including Union. Court documents for traffic cases can be filed through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. The clerk keeps track of all Union County traffic court records from start to finish.

Note: Union County is a small jurisdiction, so the clerk's office may handle traffic cases more quickly than larger counties, but the same state rules apply.

Searching Union County Traffic Records

Union County traffic court records are public. Florida has strong open records laws. Under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection by any person. You can look up Union County traffic court records without being named in the case. Search by name, citation number, or case number through available clerk tools.

Since no local image was available for the Union County Clerk's website, the FLHSMV traffic citations page below shows how Florida handles traffic cases statewide, including Union County.

The Florida Supreme Court's Administrative Order AOSC 15-18 requires traffic court records for adult defendants to be accessible online. This standard applies to all 67 counties, including Union. Personal information like social security numbers is redacted. The core facts of any Union County traffic case, charges, fines, court dates, and dispositions, remain public. The Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation helps all clerks maintain these access standards.

Traffic Ticket Options in Union County

When you get a traffic citation in Union County, you have 30 days to decide how to respond. Florida Statute Chapter 316 sets this statewide deadline. Missing it brings extra fees and a possible license suspension through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The Union County Clerk processes your choice and updates your traffic court record.

Your options include paying the fine (a guilty plea with points on your record), electing traffic school (no points if you complete a driver improvement course), appearing in court with a plea, or pleading not guilty and requesting a hearing. Traffic school requires you to plead no contest, pay the fine, and finish the course within the time allowed. Under Florida Statute 318.18, penalty amounts vary based on the violation type. You can pay fines through PayFLClerk or at the clerk's office.

Each option creates an entry in your Union County traffic court record. Filing for a hearing must happen within the 30-day window. The court sets a date and you get a notice by mail.

Union County Fines and Collections

Fine amounts in Union County depend on the violation. Moving violations carry higher fines than non-moving ones. A late fee kicks in if you miss the 30-day deadline. Paying the civil penalty counts as a conviction. Points from the citation go on your driving record through FLHSMV.

Unpaid Union County traffic fines that sit for more than 90 days can be turned over to a collection agency. Florida Statute 28.246 gives the clerk this authority. The agency can add up to 40% of the original amount. A $100 Union County traffic fine could become $140 in collections. Your license gets suspended as well, and reinstatement requires paying the full amount plus a fee through FLHSMV. Handle your Union County traffic citation on time to avoid these added costs and complications.

Note: Accumulating too many points from traffic violations in Union County or elsewhere in Florida can lead to a suspended license.

How Traffic Cases Work in Union County

Traffic cases in Union County follow the same process as every other Florida county. The officer writes the ticket. It goes to the clerk within days. Staff enter it into the system. Your 30-day clock starts. If you do nothing, late fees get added and FLHSMV gets notified to suspend your license. All of this is tracked in Union County traffic court records.

If you contest a citation, the Union County court sets a hearing date. A notice comes in the mail. At the hearing, you present evidence to a judge. The officer who wrote the ticket may appear or may not. The judge rules. A dismissal gets recorded, and so does a guilty finding with a fine. The full case file stays in the Union County system. You can access your traffic court records through the clerk's office in Lake Butler or through online tools available for Union County.

Nearby Counties

Union County shares borders with these counties. If your ticket was issued near a county line, make sure you check with the right clerk. Each county in Florida maintains separate traffic court records.