Fort Lauderdale City traffic court records are kept by the Broward County Clerk of Courts, since Fort Lauderdale sits inside Broward County and Florida does not run separate city traffic courts. The main clerk office that handles these records is called Traffic Central, and it is located in the Central Courthouse at 201 SE 6th Street, Room 01130, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301.
Anyone can search these records online through the clerk’s public portal, or visit the office in person during business hours from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The phone number for the traffic division is 954-831-6565, and the email is TrafficeClerk@browardclerk.org. These records cover every traffic ticket written inside the city limits, including speeding tickets, red light camera citations, careless driving charges, and other civil traffic infractions under Florida law.
Where Fort Lauderdale Traffic Court Records Are Kept
All traffic court records for the City of Fort Lauderdale live inside the Broward County Clerk of Courts system. The clerk acts as the record keeper for the 17th Judicial Circuit, which covers Broward County. This setup is the same across Florida, where each county clerk processes every traffic case filed in that county. The clerk collects fines, files court documents, and stores case dockets for as long as the law requires.
The Broward County Clerk of Courts Role
The Broward County Clerk of Courts is a public office created by the Florida Constitution. The clerk runs the paper and digital records for the county court system, which includes all traffic cases. The clerk also runs the traffic payment service, issues certified copies of court records, and provides public access terminals at each courthouse location. The clerk does not decide guilt or innocence in traffic cases, since judges handle that job, but the clerk does keep the official file of what happens in each case.
Why Florida Uses County Courts for Traffic Cases
Florida law places all traffic offenses under the county court system. Each county has at least one county courthouse that handles civil traffic infractions, criminal traffic offenses, and minor criminal cases. Cities like Fort Lauderdale do not have their own traffic court, so every ticket written by a city police officer or county sheriff ends up in the county clerk’s system. This rule keeps the records in one place and makes them easier to search by name, case number, or citation number.
The 17th Judicial Circuit and Fort Lauderdale
The 17th Judicial Circuit is the court system that covers Broward County. Fort Lauderdale is the county seat, so the main courthouse for the circuit sits in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The traffic division of the clerk’s office is based at the Central Courthouse on SE 6th Street. The clerk also runs three other courthouse locations across Broward County, but the Fort Lauderdale location handles the largest number of traffic cases because the city has the highest population in the county.
How to Search Fort Lauderdale Traffic Records Online
The Broward County Clerk runs a free online case search tool that covers all Fort Lauderdale traffic court records. The tool is open to the public, so anyone with a name, case number, or citation number can run a search at no cost. The system pulls data directly from the clerk’s case database and shows the most recent case status available.
Using the Broward Clerk Online Portal
The clerk’s online portal sits at browardclerk.org/web2. Users pick the search type, enter the requested details, and run the search. The portal covers traffic, criminal, civil, family, and probate cases. For Fort Lauderdale traffic cases, users should pick the “Traffic” or “County Criminal” division on the search form. The system returns a list of matching cases, and each case shows the charge, filing date, hearing dates, and final outcome.
Searching by Name
A name search works well when someone knows the full legal name of the person who received the citation. The portal accepts last name and first name, and a date of birth helps narrow the results. Name searches often return multiple matches, since many people share similar names, so extra details like middle name or date of birth cut down the list fast.
Searching by Case or Citation Number
A case number search returns the exact case the user wants, since case numbers are unique to each filing. The citation number is the number printed on the traffic ticket, and it usually starts with a county code and the year, followed by a sequence of digits. The clerk’s system can pull up the case using either the citation number or the assigned case number.
What Results Show in the Portal
The search results show the defendant’s name, the charge description, the date the citation was issued, the court location, scheduled hearing dates, and the current case status. The status might read “Pending,” “Adjudication Withheld,” “Guilty,” “Dismissed,” or “Closed.” Users can also see payment history and any balance still owed on the case.
What Fort Lauderdale Traffic Court Records Include
Fort Lauderdale traffic court records hold a wide range of details about each citation. These records are public under Florida law, so anyone can view the basic case data without paying a fee. The clerk keeps both paper and digital files, and certified copies are available for a small fee.
Citation Details and Charges
Each record shows the original charge from the Uniform Traffic Citation. The charge list includes the Florida statute number, a short description, and whether the offense is a civil infraction or a criminal misdemeanor. The record also shows the issuing agency, which is usually the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, the Broward Sheriff’s Office, or a state agency like the Florida Highway Patrol.
Hearing Dates and Appearances
The court docket shows every hearing date set for the case. For a civil traffic infraction, a hearing is only required if the driver pleads not guilty or requests a hearing. The record lists the date, time, courtroom, and name of the judge assigned to the case. Past hearing dates show what happened at each event, and the notes reflect any continuances, pleas, or rulings from the judge.
Case Disposition and Final Outcome
The disposition is the final outcome of the case. Common dispositions include “Paid Fine,” “Adjudication Withheld,” “Guilty,” “Not Guilty,” “Dismissed,” or “Nolle Prosequi.” The disposition also shows whether the driver must complete traffic school, pay court costs, or meet any other conditions. The clerk updates the disposition when the case closes, and that update becomes part of the public record.
Fines, Fees, and Payment Status
The case record also tracks all money owed and all payments made. The fine amount comes from Florida Statute 318.18, which sets penalty levels for each type of violation. The record shows the base fine, any additional court costs, and any late fees added to the balance. The record also shows the date of each payment and the total amount paid so far.
How to Pay Fort Lauderdale Traffic Citations
Paying a Fort Lauderdale traffic citation can happen in several ways, and the clerk makes each method easy to reach. The standard deadline is 30 calendar days from the date the citation was issued. Missing the deadline adds late fees and may lead to a license suspension through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Online Payment Methods
The clerk’s online portal accepts credit card and debit card payments for traffic citations. Users enter the citation number, confirm the balance, and submit the payment. A small convenience fee applies to card payments, and the fee amount depends on the payment amount. Online payments post to the case record the same day in most cases.
In-Person Payment Locations
Drivers can pay in person at the Traffic Central office in the Central Courthouse, or at any of the three other Broward County courthouse locations. Cash, check, money order, and card payments are accepted at the counter. AMSCOT locations across Florida also accept cash payments for Broward County citations, which is a good option for people who do not have a bank account.
Mail and Other Payment Options
Mail payments go to P.O. Box 14610, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33302-4610. The payment should include the citation number and a check or money order made out to the Broward County Clerk of Courts. Cash should never be sent through the mail. The PayIt app and the statewide payflclerk.com site also accept payments for Fort Lauderdale traffic cases, and these options work well for people who need to pay from a phone or tablet.
PayIt and payflclerk.com Statewide System
PayIt is a private payment service that partners with the Broward County Clerk. The payflclerk.com site is a statewide portal that covers all 67 Florida counties. Both services accept card payments and add a small processing fee. These systems are useful for people who want to manage multiple cases across different counties from one screen.
Fort Lauderdale Traffic Court Hearings and Dates
Some Fort Lauderdale traffic cases require a court hearing. The clerk’s office schedules these hearings and posts the dates on the case record. Drivers who want to fight a ticket must request a hearing before the deadline printed on the citation.
When You Must Appear in Court
A court appearance is required for criminal traffic offenses, such as driving with a suspended license, DUI, or leaving the scene of a crash. A court appearance is also required for civil infractions that result in a crash with injuries, or any citation marked “Mandatory Court Appearance” on the ticket itself. The court date is printed on the citation at the bottom.
How to Check Your Court Date
The court date for a Fort Lauderdale traffic case can be checked through the clerk’s online portal. Users search by name or citation number and look for the next scheduled hearing date. The court date also appears on any mailed notice from the clerk. Drivers can also call the traffic division at 954-831-6565 to ask about their court date.
Rescheduling a Hearing
A driver can ask for a continuance, which means rescheduling the hearing to a later date. The request goes to the clerk or to the judge’s office, and the request must show good cause. Common reasons include a work conflict, a medical issue, or a need for more time to hire an attorney. Continuances are not automatic, and the judge decides each one on a case-by-case basis.
What Happens at a Traffic Hearing
At a traffic hearing, the driver pleads guilty, no contest, or not guilty. If the driver pleads not guilty, the case moves to a trial before the judge. The judge hears the testimony, reviews the evidence, and issues a ruling. The whole process for a simple civil infraction usually takes less than 30 minutes, but more complex cases can run longer.
Florida Traffic Laws and Statutes
Fort Lauderdale traffic cases run on Florida state law, not on city ordinances. The key statutes are Chapter 316, Chapter 318, and Chapter 119, and each one plays a different role in traffic cases.
Chapter 316 – State Uniform Traffic Control
Chapter 316 of the Florida Statutes is the Florida Uniform Traffic Control Law. This chapter defines every traffic offense recognized in the state, including speeding, reckless driving, running a red light, and failure to yield. The same rules apply on every public road in Florida, from the smallest street in Fort Lauderdale to the largest interstate highway.
Chapter 318 – Disposition of Traffic Infractions
Chapter 318 sets the rules for handling traffic infractions. This chapter covers the fine amounts, the points added to a driving record, the option to attend traffic school, and the deadlines for paying fines. Florida Statute 318.18 lists the base fines for common violations, and 318.19 lists the violations that require a mandatory court appearance.
Chapter 119 – Public Records Law
Chapter 119 makes government records open to the public. Court records, including Fort Lauderdale traffic court records, fall under this law. Anyone can ask to see a court record, and the clerk must provide access within a reasonable time. The only items kept private are sensitive data like Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and the records of minors in some cases.
Conditional Plea and Withholding of Adjudication
A conditional plea is a special option available in Broward County for some civil traffic infractions. This option lets a driver close a case without going to court and without getting points on the license.
What a Conditional Plea Is
A conditional plea of no contest is a written plea sent to the clerk. The driver admits no contest to the charge, pays the fine, and asks the court to withhold adjudication. Withholding adjudication means the driver is not formally convicted, and no points go on the Florida driving record.
Who Qualifies for a Conditional Plea
Not every ticket qualifies. The citation must be a civil infraction that did not involve a crash, and the violation must not require a mandatory court appearance under Florida Statute 318.19. Common qualifying offenses include speeding, running a stop sign, and careless driving without an accident. Tickets involving crashes, injuries, or criminal conduct do not qualify.
How to File a Conditional Plea
The driver downloads the Conditional Plea form from the clerk’s website, fills it out, and submits one form per citation. The form can be emailed to TrafficeClerk@browardclerk.org or mailed to the P.O. Box address. The clerk reviews the form, and if the court approves the plea, the case closes with adjudication withheld. The fine must still be paid, but no points are added to the license.
Fort Lauderdale Traffic Court Costs and Fees
The clerk charges specific fees for copies, certified records, and other services. These fees are set by Florida law and apply across all Broward County court locations.
Copy and Certification Fees
Plain copies of Fort Lauderdale traffic court records cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $2.00 per page. Certified copies carry a raised seal and serve as official proof of the record for use in other legal matters. Copies can be picked up at any courthouse location or mailed to the requester for an extra postage fee.
Driver License History Fees
Driver license history records are also available through the clerk. A 3-year driving history costs $14.25. A 7-year or full history costs $16.25. These records show every citation, conviction, and point on a Florida driving record. Insurance companies and employers often ask for these records.
Late Payment and Collection Fees
Fines that stay unpaid for more than 90 days get sent to a collection agency under Florida Statute 28.246. The collection agency can add up to 40% to the balance for its services. A $200 fine can grow to $280 or more once the collection fee applies. A driver’s license can also be suspended until the balance is paid in full.
Purged Record Search Fees
Older Fort Lauderdale traffic records may be purged from the clerk’s active system after a set retention period. A purged record search costs a small fee and must be requested in person at a courthouse or by mail to the Traffic and Misdemeanor Division. The clerk pulls the file from storage and provides a copy if the record still exists.
Fort Lauderdale Police Department vs Court Records
Two separate agencies keep traffic records in Fort Lauderdale. Knowing the difference helps drivers get the right document for the right purpose.
What the Police Department Keeps
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department keeps the police report tied to a traffic stop or crash. The police report includes the officer’s notes, witness statements, diagrams, and any physical evidence. Accident reports and incident reports are public records, and copies can be picked up at the police records division.
What the Court Clerk Keeps
The Broward County Clerk keeps the court case file. The court file includes the citation, the plea, the hearing notes, the judge’s ruling, and the payment record. The clerk does not keep the police report inside the court file, but the court file may reference the police report number.
How They Connect
When an officer writes a citation in Fort Lauderdale, the ticket goes to the clerk for processing. The clerk logs the citation and creates a case in the court system. The police report and the court record are two separate files, and each one is kept by a different agency. A driver who needs both files must contact both the police department and the clerk’s office.
Sealed and Expunged Fort Lauderdale Records
Some Fort Lauderdale traffic cases can be sealed or expunged under Florida law. Once a record is sealed or expunged, it no longer shows up on a public search.
How Sealing Works in Florida
Sealing a record means the file is moved out of the public system and stored in a separate, restricted location. Only certain agencies can see a sealed record, including law enforcement, the courts, and some government agencies listed in Florida law. The public, employers, and most private companies cannot see a sealed record.
What Still Shows on a Public Search
Sealed and expunged records do not appear in the clerk’s online search portal. Anyone running a public search will only see active cases and cases that were never sealed. A sealed record also does not show up on a standard Florida driving record check.
How to Request a Seal or Expunge
A driver must file a petition with the Broward County Clerk and follow the procedure set by Florida Statute 943.059. The process usually requires a certificate of eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, a sworn petition, and a court hearing. A traffic attorney can help with the paperwork and the hearing.
Broward County and Nearby Cities
Fort Lauderdale shares the same clerk office with every other city in Broward County. This shared system means the search process and the payment process work the same way no matter which city the citation came from.
Other Cities Using the Same Clerk Office
Cities like Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Miramar, Coral Springs, Pompano Beach, Davie, Plantation, Sunrise, Deerfield Beach, Lauderhill, and Tamarac all send their traffic cases to the same Broward County Clerk office. A driver who gets a ticket in any of these cities follows the same steps to search, pay, or fight the citation.
Four Broward Court Locations
The clerk runs four courthouse locations in Broward County. The Central Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale is the main location and handles the most traffic cases. The other three locations sit in other parts of the county to serve residents closer to home. All four locations accept traffic payments and provide access to public records terminals.
Contact and Visit Information
The Broward County Clerk Traffic Central office is the right place to call, email, or visit for Fort Lauderdale traffic court records. The main office sits in the Central Courthouse in downtown Fort Lauderdale, with public parking available nearby. The office is open on weekdays only, and drivers should plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before closing to handle business in person.
Broward County Clerk of Courts – Traffic Central
201 SE 6th Street, Room 01130
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: 954-831-6565
Email: TrafficeClerk@browardclerk.org
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Mail: P.O. Box 14610, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33302-4610
Website: browardclerk.org
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions below cover the most common concerns about Fort Lauderdale traffic court records. Each answer pulls from the latest Florida statutes, Broward County clerk rules, and public records law. Drivers who need legal advice for a specific case should talk to a licensed traffic attorney in Florida.
How long does Broward County keep traffic court records?
Broward County keeps traffic court records based on the retention schedule set by the Florida Department of State. Misdemeanor traffic records are kept for at least 5 years after the case closes, and civil infraction records are kept for at least 3 years. Some records are kept longer if an appeal was filed or if the case involved a serious offense. After the retention period ends, the clerk may purge the record from the active system, but a copy can still be requested through a purged record search.
Can I look up a Fort Lauderdale traffic ticket without a case number?
Yes. The clerk’s online portal allows searches by name, citation number, or case number. A name search works for people who lost their ticket or did not write down the case number. Adding a date of birth helps the system return the right person, since many people share common names. The portal is free to use, and results appear within seconds in most cases.
What happens if I never paid a Fort Lauderdale traffic ticket from years ago?
Unpaid Fort Lauderdale traffic tickets can lead to a suspended license, a sent-to-collections balance, and a block on registration renewal. Under Florida Statute 28.246, fines unpaid for more than 90 days get sent to a collection agency that can add up to 40% in fees. Drivers who discover an old unpaid ticket should call the traffic division at 954-831-6565 to check the balance and set up a payment plan before the balance grows further.
Will a Fort Lauderdale traffic ticket show up on my Florida driving record?
Most moving violations show up on a Florida driving record, and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles adds points based on the offense. Speeding tickets add 3 to 4 points, and reckless driving adds 4 points. A conditional plea with adjudication withheld is the main way to keep a ticket off the driving record for a qualifying civil infraction.
Can I get a copy of a Fort Lauderdale traffic record online?
The clerk’s portal shows the basic case data for free, but certified copies must be requested through the clerk’s certified records service. The request can be made online, by mail, or in person at any courthouse location. Certified copies cost $2.00 per page, and the clerk mails the copies or holds them for pickup based on the requester’s choice.
Is there a difference between a traffic citation and a traffic court record in Fort Lauderdale?
Yes. A traffic citation is the ticket the officer writes at the time of the stop. A traffic court record is the full case file the clerk builds after the citation is filed. The citation has the original charge and the court date, while the court record adds the plea, the hearing notes, the judge’s ruling, the payment history, and the final disposition. Both documents are public, but the court record is the complete file.
Do out-of-state drivers get treated the same as Florida drivers for Fort Lauderdale traffic tickets?
Out-of-state drivers follow the same Florida traffic laws and the same Broward County court rules as Florida residents. The Driver License Compact shares traffic violation data between most U.S. states, so an out-of-state driver who fails to pay a Fort Lauderdale ticket can see the issue reported back to their home state’s motor vehicle agency. Out-of-state drivers can still use the conditional plea option, the online payment portal, and the mail payment option just like Florida residents.