St Petersburg City Traffic Court Records sit in the public court system run by the Pinellas County Clerk of Court. Every traffic ticket issued in St Petersburg, Florida, gets filed in the county system.
The city is part of Pinellas County, which sits in Florida’s 6th Judicial Circuit. People who get a ticket, need to pay a fine, or want to check a case status can pull these records online, by phone, or in person. This page explains how the records work, what each portal shows, and what to do at each step of a Florida traffic ticket.
The Clerk of Court That Holds St Petersburg Records
The Pinellas County Clerk of Court keeps all St Petersburg traffic court records. The main office sits at 315 Court Street in Clearwater, FL 33756. Clearwater is the county seat, so all court files from every city in the county end up there. St Petersburg is the largest city in Pinellas County, with about 267,000 people. That makes it one of the busiest traffic caseloads in the Tampa Bay area.
Why St Petersburg Traffic Goes Through Pinellas County
Florida law puts traffic filing duties on the county clerk. Under Florida Statute Chapter 316, the State Highway Statues, county clerks handle moving violations issued inside county borders. Pinellas County covers St Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, Safety Harbor, Oldsmar, Gulfport, Seminole, and many smaller towns. A ticket written by St Petersburg Police, Florida Highway Patrol, or the Pinellas County Sheriff all lands in the same clerk system.
Office Contact Details
The clerk’s main phone line is 727-464-7000. The website is www.mypinellasclerk.gov. The office runs Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except court holidays. Anyone can call and ask about a citation number, a court date, or fine amounts without giving personal details beyond the case number.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Office | Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court |
| Address | 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756 |
| Phone | 727-464-7000 |
| Website | www.mypinellasclerk.gov |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Judicial Circuit | 6th Judicial Circuit |
How to Search Florida Traffic Court Records
The Pinellas County Clerk runs a free Court Records Public View tool on its site. No login is needed for basic case searches. Users can type a name, a citation number, or a case number into the search bar. Results show case type, status, charges, hearing dates, and dollar amounts due. The same portal handles traffic, civil, criminal, and family cases from anywhere in the county.
Searching by Name
A name search pulls up cases linked to a first and last name. To get the cleanest results, users should add a birth year when possible. The system will return active and closed cases for that person in Pinellas County. St Petersburg traffic citations show up the same way citations from Clearwater or Largo do. If the person has a common name, results may include others with the same name. Filtering by case type to “Traffic” helps narrow down the list.
Searching by Citation or Case Number
A citation lookup is the fastest way to get case details. Each Florida uniform traffic citation carries a number printed at the top right corner. Type that number into the public viewer and the case page opens right away. The page lists the charge, the issuing agency, the court date, the fine amount, and whether the case is open or closed. This method also works on the statewide PayFLClerk site at payflclerk.com for paid lookups across all 67 Florida counties.
Statewide Court Access for Florida Records
For a statewide Florida traffic court records search, the Florida Courts E-Portal Site at myflcourtaccess.com covers every county clerk. St Petersburg cases show up under “Pinellas” in the county dropdown. The site also lists cases from Hillsborough County, Miami-Dade County, Orange County, Duval County, and every other county in Florida. E-Clerk tools in larger counties offer the same public view as Pinellas.
Phone and In-Person Lookups
Anyone who cannot search online can call 727-464-7000 during business hours. Staff pull up the case using the citation number and read off the status, fine, and next court date. For certified copies, a visit to the Clearwater office is needed. Photo ID is required for in-person record requests.
Types of Traffic Records Kept by the Clerk
Florida divides traffic offenses into two main groups. Knowing which group a ticket falls into changes how the case moves through court. The clerk files both kinds but tracks them under separate case types.
Civil Traffic Infraction Records
Civil infractions are the most common St Petersburg traffic cases. These include most speeding tickets, stop sign violations, expired tag tickets, and careless driving citations. A civil infraction is not a crime. It carries no jail time. Penalties are fines, court costs, and points on the driving record. Under Florida Statute Chapter 318, the civil traffic system handles these cases. The clerk files them as “CT” cases in the public index.
Criminal Traffic Offense Records
Criminal traffic offenses are more serious. Examples include DUI, driving with a suspended license causing injury, leaving the scene of an accident, and reckless driving causing property damage. These cases go through the criminal division of the same clerk office but carry a separate case number prefix. A criminal traffic case can lead to jail, probation, and a permanent record. The clerk files them as “TC” cases in the public index.
Differences Between Court and Driving Records
A court case is the legal file at the courthouse. A driving record is the state motor vehicle file kept by the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) at flhsmv.gov. The court record shows what happened in court. The driving record shows the points, suspensions, and convictions tied to a license. Court records are public. Driving records need a signed release or a fee-based request through FLHSMV or an approved vendor.
Steps After Getting a St Petersburg Traffic Ticket
Florida gives drivers 30 days from the citation date to respond. Missing the 30-day window can lead to late fees, a license suspension, and even a collections case. Three main options exist for every ticket.
Option 1: Pay the Fine and Accept Points
Paying the fine closes the case. Points go on the license based on the offense. Under Florida law, points range from 3 for speeding under 50 mph in a 20 mph zone, up to 6 for reckless driving. Drivers who collect 12 points in 12 months face a 30-day suspension. Paying is fast but leaves a mark on the driving record.
Option 2: Elect Driver Improvement School
Traffic school lets drivers keep points off their record. The court withholds adjudication if the course is finished on time. Drivers pay the fine, complete an approved course, and submit proof to the clerk. Limits apply: five times total in a lifetime, and only once every 12 months. CDL holders cannot use this option.
Option 3: Plead Not Guilty and Request a Hearing
Pleading not guilty sets the case for a hearing at the Pinellas County Courthouse. The hearing is held before a county judge. Drivers can hire a traffic attorney, gather evidence, and contest the ticket. If the case is dismissed, no points, no fine, and no record show on the driving file.
Submitting Proof for Non-Moving Tickets
Some tickets, such as expired registration or no proof of insurance, can be dismissed by fixing the problem and showing proof. Drivers bring or upload proof to the clerk before the deadline. The case closes with no points. This option does not apply to moving violations like speeding or running a red light.
St Petersburg Traffic Ticket Costs and Fine Surcharges
Fine amounts depend on the specific violation. State law sets a base fine range, and counties add surcharges on top. Local ordinances may add extra costs. St Petersburg tickets carry the same base fine range as tickets in Clearwater or any other Pinellas city.
Typical Fine Ranges by Violation
Minor speeding in St Petersburg costs about $130 to $200. Going 30 mph or more over the limit can run $250 to $500. Running a red light costs about $260. Careless driving typically costs $160 to $360. These numbers are fine-only amounts and do not include court costs, which add another $50 to $100 to most tickets.
Late Fees and Collections
Miss the 30-day deadline and a late fee is added under Florida Statute 28.246. Let it run past 90 days and the clerk refers unpaid tickets to a collections agency. The agency can add up to 40% to the balance. A $200 ticket can balloon to $280 or more. A second collections action can trigger a license suspension. Paying on time saves money.
How to Pay St Petersburg Traffic Fines
Payment options include the PayFLClerk portal, the Pinellas County Clerk website, mail, and in person at the Clearwater office. Online payments by credit card carry a small service fee. Mail payments go to 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756. The citation number should appear on every payment to avoid processing delays.
What St Petersburg Court Records Reveal
The public court file shows every action taken on a case. From the date the ticket was filed to the final disposition, the record is open for inspection under Florida Statute Chapter 119, the Public Records Act.
Case Status and Hearing Date Lookup
The case status field tells whether a ticket is open, pending, set for hearing, or closed. An open case has not been resolved. A pending case has a court date set. A closed case has a final order, such as paid, dismissed, or adjudicated. The hearing date field shows when the driver must appear in court if pleading not guilty. Court dockets for the day are posted online the morning of each hearing.
Disposition Records and Case Outcomes
The disposition shows the final result. Common dispositions include paid fine, traffic school completed, dismissed, withhold of adjudication, and conviction. A withhold of adjudication means the court found the driver responsible but did not enter a formal conviction. This outcome shows on the court file but does not count as a conviction for most purposes. A conviction is a formal finding of guilt and has the strongest impact on the driving record.
Public Access Rules for Court Records
Florida law says all state, county, and city records are open to the public unless sealed or expunged by a judge. Anyone can look up a St Petersburg traffic case, including employers, insurers, and the public. Sealed cases do not show in online searches. Expunged records are removed from public view after a legal process. The clerk charges a small fee for plain copies and a larger fee for certified copies.
Florida Traffic Records in Surrounding Counties
Drivers who live near county lines may have cases in more than one Florida county. The Florida court system is split into 67 counties across 20 judicial circuits. The clerk office in each county handles its own files.
Hillsborough County Traffic Court Records
Hillsborough County covers Tampa, Brandon, Plant City, and Temple Terrace. The Hillsborough County Clerk of Court runs a public case search at hillsclerk.com. Tampa drivers handle traffic cases through that office, not through Pinellas. A Tampa speeding ticket will not show up under St Petersburg records.
Miami-Dade Traffic Court Records Search
Miami-Dade County is the largest county in Florida. Its clerk office posts an online case search at miamidadeclerk.gov. South Florida drivers who get a ticket in Miami-Dade use that portal. Florida traffic ticket lookup works the same way as in Pinellas, just through the Miami-Dade system.
Orange County Florida Traffic Court Lookup
Orange County covers Orlando and the surrounding area. The Orange County Clerk of Courts runs a public search at myorangeclerk.com. Central Florida drivers use that portal for tickets written in Orlando, Winter Park, Apopka, and other Orange County cities.
Duval County Jacksonville Traffic Records
Duval County covers Jacksonville. The Duval County Clerk of Courts runs a search portal at core.duvalclerk.com. Northeast Florida drivers use that office for tickets written in Jacksonville. Each of Florida’s 67 counties runs its own clerk portal with the same basic search features.
How County Lines Affect Citation Lookup
A citation carries the name of the issuing agency. St Petersburg Police citations go to the Pinellas County Clerk. Florida Highway Patrol citations go to the county where the violation happened. Knowing the county is critical when searching the statewide Florida court records system. Picking the wrong county returns a “case not found” message.
Tips for Faster St Petersburg Case Lookup
Most lookups finish in under two minutes when drivers have the right details ready. Each search method has a few best practices that cut down on errors.
Gathering Citation and Case Details First
The citation number cuts search time the most. Drivers who lost the paper copy can pull it up by name on the public view portal. The system shows the citation number next to each case. Drivers who cannot recall the year of the ticket can leave the year blank and sort results by date.
Reading Online Case Pages
Online case pages use legal shorthand. “CT” means civil traffic. “TC” means criminal traffic. “Bond” means a payment was posted. “Disposed” means the case is closed. Each field on the case page links to a court action. Drivers who need help reading a case page can call the clerk or visit the website’s help section.
St Petersburg Traffic Court Contact Details
The Pinellas County Clerk of Court acts as the main contact for all St Petersburg traffic court record questions. Drivers can call, write, or visit the main office in Clearwater. Records requests, fine payments, and case questions all start at this office.
Official Website: www.mypinellasclerk.gov
Phone Number: 727-464-7000
Address: 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Statewide Payment Portal: payflclerk.com
Statewide Case Search Portal: myflcourtaccess.com
Frequently Asked Questions About St Petersburg Traffic Records
The questions below cover the most common lookup, payment, and legal issues drivers face with St Petersburg city traffic court records. Each answer reflects Florida law, Pinellas County Clerk practice, and current public access rules as of August 2026.
How Long Does a St Petersburg Traffic Case Stay on the Record?
A closed civil traffic case stays on the Pinellas County clerk public file for at least seven years. Most traffic cases stay longer because the driving record at FLHSMV retains convictions and points for five to ten years. A criminal traffic case, such as DUI, stays on the court file permanently unless sealed or expunged. The clerk cannot remove adult traffic records without a court order. Sealed records disappear from online searches, but certified copies still exist in the sealed file. Expunged records are physically destroyed after a legal process and cannot be retrieved.
Can Someone Else Look Up My St Petersburg Traffic Case?
Yes. Florida public records law gives anyone the right to view court case information. A neighbor, employer, insurance company, or private investigator can pull up a case by name or citation number. The only exceptions are sealed or expunged records. Juvenile records are also confidential. Sealed cases require a court order to open. Expunged cases are destroyed. Adult traffic cases in St Petersburg are open for inspection by default under Florida Statute Chapter 119.
What Happens If I Miss My St Petersburg Court Date?
Missing a court date without contacting the clerk can result in a bench warrant. The court can issue a failure to appear, also called an FTA, which leads to a license suspension by FLHSMV. Drivers who miss a date can call the clerk at 727-464-7000 to ask for a reset. The judge decides whether to grant a new date. Showing up at the next scheduled date with a valid reason is the best path. Driving with a suspended license adds criminal penalties to the original case.
How Do I Get a Copy of a St Petersburg Traffic Court Document?
Plain copies can be ordered online through the Pinellas County Clerk public view portal. Certified copies need a written request, a small fee, and a visit or mail request to the Clearwater office. Certified copies carry a court seal and are accepted by other courts, government agencies, and insurance companies. Plain copies are useful for personal reference but may not be accepted for legal filings. The clerk staff can confirm exact fees before payment.
Is a St Petersburg Traffic Case Visible on a Background Check?
Yes. Most background check services pull data from clerk public view systems and the FLHSMV driver record. A civil traffic case with a withhold of adjudication may show up as a case filed in Pinellas County. A criminal traffic conviction will definitely appear on a criminal background check. Some employers run driver record checks, which show convictions but withhold most civil infractions. Insurance companies can pull driving records with a driver’s signed consent.
Can I Pay My St Petersburg Traffic Ticket With a Payment Plan?
Payment plans are available for drivers who cannot pay the full fine at once. Drivers can request a payment plan through the Pinellas County Clerk or by contacting the court before the due date. A small fee may apply. Missing a payment plan payment can restart late fees and collections. The court may revoke a payment plan for non-payment. Drivers with income limits may also qualify for a fine reduction through the Public Defender’s office or a Traffic Infraction Diversion program.
What Is the Difference Between a St Petersburg Traffic Citation and a St Petersburg Traffic Case?
A citation is the paper ticket given at the traffic stop. A case is the court file that opens when the citation goes unpaid or contested. Paying the fine within 30 days in many cases closes the matter without opening a court case. Failing to pay, pleading not guilty, or missing the deadline opens a formal court case tracked by the Pinellas County Clerk. The case file holds every motion, hearing date, and order tied to that citation until final disposition.