Most infraction violations must be paid within 30 calendar days from the date the ticket was issued. Please read your citation for instructions to pay, attend a court hearing or other options or requirements.

If a ticket is not paid within 30 calendar days from the date of issuance, a suspension will be entered against your driver license, which could affect your insurance rates and will subject you to additional penalties.

If you receive a letter from the State of Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (Florida DHSMV) informing you that your license will be suspended, you must comply on or before the business day prior (before) the date stated on the letter. The suspension date listed on the letter goes into effect at midnight on that date. Therefore, if you come in on the that date, you will be late and your license will already be suspended.

Tickets must be satisfied in the county in which they were issued. For example, if you received a traffic ticket in Tampa, Florida, you must pay for it in Hillsborough County. You may not pay for it in Pinellas County.

In Pinellas County, the Clerk’s 24-hour Automated Payment and Information Line, (727) 464-4846, will provide information about your traffic ticket including the amount of the civil penalty due, the options available to you to satisfy the charge, the due date, the status of the ticket and other general information. Using your VISA, Mastercard, American Express or Discover, you may also make a payment for any non-criminal, non-delinquent (within 30 days of issuance) ticket. Please have your copy of the ticket with you when you place the call. You will be charged a 3.5% convenience fee by the credit card processor for this service.

Deputy clerks cannot advise you on the number of points assessed against your driver history record or on how points will affect your insurance or how many times you have elected school. You must address these concerns with the Bureau of Driver Licenses and/or your insurance agent.

Alexander Truluck focuses his practice as a criminal defense attorney in Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Largo, Dunedin and the Tampa Bay area.

For more information, visit our website at http://www.criminallawyerclearwaterflorida.com
or call (727) 799-3550.