In Florida, many traffic infractions are noncriminal and the law gives people options: pay the civil penalty, enter a payment plan, elect driver improvement school in some cases, or request a hearing to contest the citation. Specific procedures and timelines differ for ordinary traffic citations and for notices issued from automated systems like red light or school zone cameras.
A common pathway is to respond to the citation or mailed notice within the time allowed and choose whether to admit the infraction by paying the penalty or to request a hearing. If a person fails to respond or appear, the clerk must notify the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and a suspension order may follow.
Current Florida law
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The deadline that matters
Respond (pay, enter a payment plan, or request a hearing) within 30 days after the citation is issued or after receiving a notice, unless a different period applies for camera-issued notices (which may allow up to 60 days to request a hearing).
What Florida law says
Noncriminal traffic infractions and the basic response options are set out in Fla. Stat. § 318.14. Notices from automated enforcement systems (red light cameras and school zone speed cameras) include special notice and review rights under Fla. Stat. § 316.0083 and Fla. Stat. § 316.1896. If a person fails to pay, enter a payment plan, attend required driver improvement school, or appear at a scheduled hearing, the clerk must notify the Department and the department must issue a suspension order as described in Fla. Stat. § 318.15.
What to do
A common first step is to read the citation or mailed notice carefully to find the listed response options and deadlines.
A common option is to pay the civil penalty or enter a payment plan with the clerk within the statutory period under Fla. Stat. § 318.14.
A common next step is to request a hearing to contest the citation if you prefer to challenge the infraction; camera-issued notices include specific review and hearing timelines under Fla. Stat. § 316.0083 and Fla. Stat. § 316.1896.
A common precaution is to keep proof of timely payment, any requests, or correspondence with the clerk, since failure to respond can lead to a license suspension under Fla. Stat. § 318.15.
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Common questions
What happens if I do not respond to a citation?
If a person does not pay, enter a payment plan, attend required driver improvement school, or appear at a scheduled hearing, the clerk must notify the Department and the department must issue an order suspending driving privileges as provided in Fla. Stat. § 318.15.
Do camera-issued notices work differently?
Yes. Notices from red light or school zone speed detection systems include required information, photographic evidence, and specific review or hearing rights as described in Fla. Stat. § 316.0083 and Fla. Stat. § 316.1896.
Can I avoid court fees by responding to a mailed camera notice?
Some automated-notice statutes require that the registered owner pay a penalty or furnish an affidavit or request a hearing within specified times to avoid issuance of a uniform traffic citation and additional court fees, see Fla. Stat. § 316.0083 and Fla. Stat. § 316.1896.
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This page provides legal information about Florida law, not legal advice. CiteLaw is not a law firm and does not represent you. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.
