Traffic Citations and Information

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Important: A traffic citation is due to the Clerk's Office by the compliance date (within 30 days of receipt of the citation). Payments received, regardless of postmark, or made after the compliance date will incur an additional $23.00 late fee.

Options for a Traffic Citation

Upon receipt of a traffic ticket for any violation where points may be assessed, you have 30 days from the date of issuance of the ticket to exercise one of four options:

• Option 1: Pay the Citation
  
• Option 2: Traffic School Election
• Option 3: Plea of No Contest/Guilty and No Request for a Hearing
• Option 4: Plea of Not Guilty and Request for a Hearing

Option 1 - Pay the Citation

Payment of the citation amount must be made within 30 days from the date of issuance.

Payment may be made online, by phone, in-person, or by mail.​

If you choose to pay the citation, points are assessed against your drivers license.

To pay online or by phone, please visit: Pay online or by Phone

For payments in-person or by mail, the address is:
Alachua County Clerk’s Office
Traffic Bureau
201 East University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601

Option 2 - Traffic School Election

If eligible, you may elect to attend Traffic School (Driver Improvement School). You may check your eligibility to attend traffic school at Driver License Check.

If successfully completed:

• Adjudication will be withheld.
• Points will not be assessed to your license.
• The fine may be reduced.

To make a traffic school election, within 30 days of the date you received the citation, you must file the Traffic School Election Form with the Clerk's Office and pay the citation amount.

You can make a traffic school election online or by phone. Please visit: Pay Online or by Phone.

You can also make an election in-person, via mail, fax, or through e-filing. A form for use can be found at Traffic School Election Form.

Information on different filing options can be found at Filing Options.

For payments in-person or by mail, the address is:
Alachua County Clerk’s Office
Traffic Bureau
201 East University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601

Upon receipt of your Traffic School Election Form and payment, you will be granted an extra 60 days to attend a driver improvement school in the state of Florida. A listing of approved traffic schools can be found at State of Florida Approved List of Driving and Education Course Schools.

To determine if the fine will be reduced for a particular violation, see the Table of Traffic Fines including Traffic School Reductions.

Important Information

1. You may only elect this option 8 times in a lifetime.
2. At least ​1 year must have passed since you last elected to attend a Driver Improvement Course.

Failure to timely complete the traffic school course, timely submit your completion certificate, or pay the citation will result in removal of the fee reduction, an adjudication, points being assessed, and suspension of your license and/or late fees being assessed.

• Traffic School Election Form
• State of Florida approved list of Driving and Education Course Schools
• Driver License Check

Option 3 - Plea of Guilty No Contest and No Request for a Hearing

You may choose this option if you do not want to contest the citation, but want to provide the court with information to take under consideration in sentencing without having a hearing.​ You will utilize the form to make any arguments and request youhave for the court to consider in sentencing. 

To plead guilty/no contest and not request a hearing, you must file your plea Plea of Guilty/No Contest and No Request for Hearing within 30 days of the citation. A form for use can be found at: Plea of Guilty/No Contest for No Request for Hearing.

The Clerk’s Office is not permitted to accept court filings by email. Information on different filing options can be found at Filing Options.

Upon filing, there will not be a court hearing unless one is requested by the State of Florida or court. The court will take into consideration all available information and issue a sentence.

If you plead guilty/no contest and do not request a hearing, please be aware, the court may sentence you to any of the following:

• An adjudication (points on driving record) or
  
• A withhold of adjudication (no points) and or
  
• 4, 8, or 12 hour driver improvement course
• Court costs and possible fines
• Other sanctions as ordered by the court

Additionally, if you plead guilty/no contest and do not request a hearing, please note the penalty is not limited to the fine amount on your ticket. The judge can impose a fine up to $1000, depending on the offense, and/or require additional sanctions.

The form for use is also available at the Clerk’s Office if you are unable to access and/or file it online.​

O​ption 4 - Plea of Not Guilty and Request for a Hearing

To plead not guilty and request a hearing, you must file your Plea of Not Guilty and Request for Hearing within 30 days of the date of the citation.

The Clerk’s Office is not permitted to accept court filings by email. Information on different filing options can be found at filing options.

Upon filing, a court date will be set, and you will be required to appear in court for the hearing (unless your appearance is waived).

If you plead not guilty and request a hearing, please be aware, the court may sentence you to any of the following:

• You may be sentenced to any of the following:
  • An adjudication (points on driving record) and/or
  • A withhold of adjudication (no points), and/or
  • 4, 8, or 12 hour driver improvement course
  • Court costs and possible fines
  • Other sanctions as ordered by the court

Additionally, if you plead not guilty and request a hearing, please note the penalty is not limited to the fine amount on your ticket. If the court determines that you committed the offense, the judge can impose a fine up to $1000, depending on the offense, and/or require additional sanctions.

You will receive notice of the time and date of your hearing.

The form for use is also available at the Clerk’s Office if you are unable to access and/or file it online.

You may write the Clerk's Office at:

Clerk of Court
Traffic Bureau
201 E. University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601

Or email the Clerk’s Traffic Bureau at:traffic@alachuaclerk.org

(Note: court filings cannot be accepted by email.)

To file your​ Court Election form electronically:
www.alachuacounty.us/Depts/Clerk/Traffic Citations/Pages/FilingOptions.aspx

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On citations for expired or failed to display vehicle registration, insurance or driver’s license, you may show proof of compliance in the form of renewed vehicle registration, insurance or driver’s license along with this affidavit within 30 days of issuance of the citation. Your ticket will be reduced and no points will be assessed against your driver’s license.

Form: Plea of Nolo Contendere for Registration, Insurance or Valid License Verification

On citations for a registration and/or insurance violation where you are unable to provide valid proof of registration and/or insurance, you may be able to submit this affidavit in lieu of valid proof. If your situation is not listed in the affidavit, please contact the Clerk’s Office for further assistance.

Affidavit form: Affidavit of Exemption From Proof Requirement

If you are unable to pay your citation due to financial hardship, you may submit this Community Service Request along with the Community Service Application and the Court may grant community service in lieu of fines and court costs.

Form: Community Service Request

Other Traffic Citation Forms

For these and other traffic citation forms, see the Traffic Forms on the Forms Page.

• Affidavit of Defense Form for Mandatory Hearings
• Affidavit of Exemption from Proof Requirement
• Community Service Request
• Community Service Application
• Instructions for Traffic Citation Elections by Court
• Traffic Plea of Nolo for Verification of Registration, Insurance or Valid Driver License