The firms will add 40% to the amount owed pursuant to FS 28.246(6); they will notify you of the referral and will collect the monies owed. Once you case has been referred to a firm, it will maintain your account. To insure that your account is credited properly, only the firm will accept payment on your account

Our office distributes the funds to the various trust funds required by Florida law.

• For last names starting with A-K, contact this firm for payment information and instructions: Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP, PO Box 702118, San Antonio, TX 78270, 1-866-234-9790.
• For last names starting with L-R, contact this firm for payment information and instructions: Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins and Mott‚ LLP, PO Box 9132, Amarillo, TX 79105, 1-866-870-8565, www.pbfcm.com.
• For last names starting with S-Z, contact this firm for payment information and instructions: Penn Credit, PO Box 988, Harrisburg, PA 17108, 1-800-900-1380, www.penncredit.com.

If you did not pay your traffic citation within 30 days after it was issued, your driver license was suspended pursuant to FS 322.245(5) and late fees were added to the amount owed. If it remained unpaid 90 days after it was issued, your citation/case was referred to one of our collection firms as required by FS 28.246(6).

The collection law firm may file with credit bureaus those accounts that remain unpaid. Failure to pay your traffic citations may also affect your credit rating.

• You may file a notarized election affidavit form with our office by:
• Mailing it to the Leon County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, ATTN: Traffic, 1276 Metropolitan Boulevard, #101, Tallahassee, FL 32312;
• Bringing it to either of our two locations: The Leon County Courthouse, 301 S. Monroe Street, #100, or 1276 Metropolitan Boulevard. Click here for our current hours of operation.
• You must enroll, attend and complete an approved school within 60 calendar days from the date you elect to attend.
• You must pay for the course at the time you enroll.
• The election affidavit must be submitted with payment. If you pay your fine without formally making this election, you may not elect driver improvement school later; the election must be made at the same time you pay your ticket. This election does not extend the time to pay your citation.

You may make an election to attend school to satisfy an eligible traffic violation one time in a 12 month period, but no more than 5 times in your lifetime. If you elect to attend, but fail to satisfy the requirements, the election will still count toward the 5 allowed.

• If you elect to attend school, you must complete the course and submit a completion certificate to our office within 60 calendar days of your election.
• If you fail to meet any of these requirements, an $18.00 penalty will be assessed pursuant to Florida law; you must pay the 18% school reduction fee; a suspension will be entered against your driver license; you will be adjudicated guilty of the offense; and points will be assessed against your driver license.
• Further, your case will be referred to one of our collection firms for collection of the past due amounts.
• If we request suspension of your license for failure to complete school, or for your failure to file the school certificate of completion with this office, an additional $23.00 processing fee pursuant to Florida law will be added.

You must make your election and pay the fines and costs in the county where your ticket was issued. However, you may attend a driver improvement school approved by the State of Florida in the location of your choice.

School costs vary, depending on the school you attend. In addition to the cost for school, you must pay fine and court costs in full; the civil penalty is required by law.

Whether you attend a driver improvement school in Leon County or in another county, you must submit proof of completion to our office within 60 calendar days of the date you elect to attend school.

Options for submitting proof or a certificate of completion are:

• Efile: Go to the Clerk's E-File site.
• Mail to: Leon County Clerk & Comptroller, ATTN: Traffic, 1276 Metropolitan Boulevard, #101, Tallahassee, FL 32312.
• Deliver to (click here for our hours of operation):
  • Northeast Branch, 1276 Metropolitan Boulevard #101, Tallahassee, FL; or
  • Leon County Courthouse, 301 S. Monroe Street #100, Tallahassee, FL

Basic Driver Improvement Course Providers

• You may be eligible if charged with a moving or non-moving traffic violation. Failure to complete school will result in an $18 failed school assessment, you must pay the 18% school reduction fee and additional late fees.

• You are charged with a violation involving driver licenses, vehicle registration, proof of insurance, speeding in excess of 30 MPH or leaving a child under the age of 6 unattended in a vehicle.
• You hold a commercial license.
• You hold an out-of-state DL, so prior to election, you must verify if the issuing state will accept a Florida school election and withhold points for completing the school.

You may consult the telephone directory heading of "Driving Instruction" or contact the Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) at (850) 617-2000, for a traffic reference guide; or click here for the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles list of approved course providers.

• No points will be assessed against your driver license.
• Attending driver improvement school to satisfy the violation will be entered on your driver history record as a withhold of adjudication.

• You must notify our office, in person or in writing, within the required time period.
• Your case will be scheduled for an infraction hearing, at which you will be formally advised of the charge against you. For more information concerning infraction hearings, click here.
• You may change your plea at the hearing.
• Once you elect to contest your citation, you have waived your right to pay the citation in full or pay the reduced fee and elect to attend driver improvement school.

If you were charged with one of the following offenses, you must appear in court instead of just paying your citation; a court notice will be mailed to you at the address that is listed on the citation:

• Load not secured: 316.520(1) or 316.520(2)
• Passing stopped school bus on enter/exit side: 316.172(1B)
• Any citation that resulted in a fatality or serious bodily injury
• Child unattended: 316.6135
• Speeding in excess of 30 MPH: 316.183, 316.187 and 316.189

• If you are found guilty of a civil traffic infraction, the court may assess costs and fines, order you to attend a defensive driving course, or impose other penalties.
• If you fail to pay the fine and costs in the time allotted by the court, a suspension will be issued against your driver license and additional penalties will be imposed.

• If you are unable to attend, you may request a continuance at least 7 days before your court date. Click here for a Motion to Continue.
• You may submit your motion to our office by:
• Mailing it to the Leon County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, ATTN: Infraction Clerk, 1276 Metropolitan Boulevard, #101, Tallahassee, FL 32312.
• Bringing it to either of our two locations: The Leon County Courthouse, 301 S. Monroe Street, #100, or 1276 Metropolitan Boulevard. Click here for our current hours of operation.
• Electronically filing it, but you must have a case number. Click here for more information on efiling.
• Our office may allow only one continuance; a hearing officer must grant any subsequent requests. If your request is received less than 7 days from your court date, it will be submitted to the hearing officer in court; the hearing officer may grant the request or may hear the case in your absence.
• You may submit a notarized Affidavit of Defense instead of appearing at your contested court hearing by mail, efiling or in person, as noted in the 2nd question above; click here for this form.

Most infraction hearings are held at 1920 Thomasville Road and are heard before a hearing officer. Contested hearings that involve injury and mandatory hearings involving serious bodily injury or a fatality must be heard before a judge. When set, your court notice will indicate the courtroom.

The officer who issued the traffic ticket, any witnesses called by the officer, and any witnesses you wish to call, will be present at the hearing.

You have 4 options if proof is submitted and payment received within the first 30 days:

• Pay the citation.
• When you elect to pay, your case will be satisfied upon payment; the charge will be entered on your driving record as a conviction; and points will be assessed as applicable. If you select this option, you will not be allowed to elect school later.
• If you have been charged with safety equipment violations, you may have the defect corrected and submit an Affidavit of Compliance, along with the reduced fee of $107.00 for offenses written within the City of Tallahassee. For offenses written in the unincorporated areas, the reduced fee will be $100.00.
• If you have been charged with a registration, driver license, or insurance violation, you may pay a $10 dismissal fee upon showing proof that your license/insurance/registration was valid on the date and time of the offense. If they were not valid at the time of the offense, you must pay it in full.
• Enter a plea of not guilty. You must appear at court as noted on your citation, or you can send an Affidavit of Defense or Admission and Waiver of Appearance form to our office. If you cannot appear in court, you must file this form with the clerk.
• Elect to attend a driver improvement course. See the Driver Improvement School section on this page.
• Enter a plea of nolo contendere.
  • If you were charged with a violation 316.646(1), 320.0605(1), 320.07(3)(a), 322.065, 322.15(1), or 322.34(1) and your license is suspended for failure to appear, failure to pay, or failure to attend a driver improvement school under 322.291, you may contact the Clerk's Office to enter this plea.
  • You must send the Affidavit Option form to our office, along with the assessed costs and fines.
  • You must also provide a valid driver license, tag, registration, or proof of insurance to our office, and cannot have made this election within the last 12 months and not more than 3 times in your life.
  • If your plea is accepted, our office will withhold adjudication.

For citations issued after 3/15/2020 there will be a $2.00 increase for all amounts listed. The increase is for the Dori Slosberg Driver Education Safety Act, pursuant to Florida Statute 318.1215.

Florida law provides for the imposition of court costs and fines for various traffic infractions. For citations issued after 3/15/2020 click here otherwise click here for a list of fines and costs for the most common traffic offenses. If you do not see the violation for which you were cited, please contact us at (850) 606-4100.

• If you want to ask the court to take action on your case and less than 180 days have passed since your offense date, you must submit your request for hearing in writing.
• If you want to ask the court to take action on your case and more than 180 days have passed since your offense date, you may submit a motion to our office for consideration by a hearing officer.
• If less than 180 days have passed since your offense date and your driver license is suspended, you must pay the late fees and reinstatment fee, if applicable, for us to clear the license while your motion is pending.
• If more than 180 days have passed since your offense date and your driver license is suspended, you must pay the citation in full, including late fees and reinstatement fees, for us to clear the license while your motion is pending.

• Search via our website under Search/Court Databases by citation number, case number, or name and select VOR (viewable on request) for an electronic image of your records to be emailed to you.
• Send your request in writing to the Leon County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, ATTN: Records, 301 S. Monroe St, Suite 100, Tallahassee, FL 32301. Please allow 5 - 10 business days to process.
• Visit our office to review your file in the Help Center at the Leon County Courthouse, Suite 100, 301 S. Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301.

Please click here to link to The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to verify the status of your driver's license.

• If you have been ordered to perform community service hours instead of paying your traffic citation, your community service hours must be performed at an approved non-profit organization, such as: The United Way, The Boys and Girls Club of America, The American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, The American Cancer Society, MADD, or March of Dimes.
• For a list of Community Service Agencies, please Click Here
• Florida law requires proof of completion to be on agency letterhead; an authorized agent of the agency must sign the form; and the agent's signature must be notarized. You may submit proof of completion by:
• Mailing it to the Leon County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, 301 S. Monroe Street, #100, Tallahassee, FL 32301;
• Bringing it to either of our two locations: The Leon County Courthouse, 301 S. Monroe Street, #100, or 1276 Metropolitan Boulevard. Click here for our current hours of operation.
• Electronically filing it, but you must have a case number. Click here for more information on efiling.
• Failure to submit proof of completion to this office by the date ordered may result in additional penalties and suspension of your driver license.

Deputy clerks cannot offer advice concerning the number of points assessed against your license or how points will affect your insurance. You must address these concerns with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and/or your insurance agent.

• A suspension will be entered against your driver license, and this could affect your insurance rates and subject you to additional penalties. Late fees of up to $23 may be assessed.
• Your case will be referred to one of our collection firms after 90 days for collection of the past due amounts.

• If you are unable to pay your citation(s) within the statutory 30-day timeframe allowed under 318.14(4), you may be eligible to participate in the Payment Program. You cannot receive the reduced fine under the Payment Program for offenses that permit a reduced fee like insurance, registration, license or defective equipment. All citations eligible for fee reductions must be paid within the first 30 days.
• To participate in the Payment Program, you must make your request within the first 30 days. You may visit our Northeast Branch location at 1276 Metropolitan Blvd., Room #101, or our payment area at the Leon County Courthouse, 301 S. Monroe St, Suite 100, Tallahassee, FL 32301. You are required to pay a $25.00 administrative fee when you file a Request for Partial Payment of Civil Infraction. You will then be given 90 days to pay your citation.
• You may still elect to attend driver improvement school if you participate in the Payment Program, provided you qualify to attend driver improvement school. Refer to the Driver Improvement School section on this page to determine if you are eligible. You will have 90 days from the date we receive your Request for Partial Payment of Civil Infraction, $25.00 application fee, and notarized Election Affidavit to complete your driver improvement course and submit your certificate of completion to this office.
• Failure to comply with the Notice of Partial Payment Agreement will result in additional penalties and possible suspension of your driver license for civil traffic infractions or a civil judgment for ordinance violations.

A criminal traffic charge, such as driving under the influence, requires a court appearance and subjects a person to penalties that include a fine and/or the possibility of a jail term. Payment of the ticket cannot be made automatically to the Clerk's Office. Persons charged with a criminal offense must appear at the date, time and location indicated on the citation or as provided at the jail.

A civil traffic infraction is a non-criminal charge that usually can be disposed of by payment of a civil penalty or an election to attend a driver improvement course. A court appearance is not required except as required by law.

• Payments can be made at our Northeast Branch at 1276 Metropolitan Blvd., Room #101, Tallahassee, FL 32312 or at the Leon County Courthouse, 301 S. Monroe St., Suite 100, Tallahassee Fl. 32301.
• You may mail your payment to Leon County Clerk & Comptroller, ATTN: Traffic Citations, 1276 Metropolitan Blvd., Room #101, Tallahassee, FL 32312. Do not mail cash. Click here to pay online.
• We accept personal checks, money orders, check, Visa, Mastercard and cash. All checks must be drawn on a U.S. bank. We do not accept starter or counter checks.
• Whether online, in person or over the phone, a credit card convenience fee, per case, will be added to the amount owed. Our office does not receive any part of this fee.

The Traffic Division of the County Court handles criminal traffic cases, civil infractions and ordinance violations. County court judges hear criminal traffic cases, while hearing officers preside over civil infractions and ordinance violations.

As noted on the back of the citation, infraction violations must be paid within 30 calendar days from the date the ticket was issued. There is no grace period. Note: The Clerk's Office needs to have the citation on hand for you to pay it. Because FS 316.650(3)(a) permits 5 days for law enforcement officers to submit citations to the Clerk's Office for processing, you should consider this before visiting this office to pay.