A Non-Criminal Traffic Infraction is a violation not punishable by jail and which usually can be disposed of by payment of a civil penalty or election to attend a defensive driving course. A court appearance is not required, except in cases where the violation involves an accident with serious bodily injury or a fatality; a violation for leaving a child in a vehicle unattended; a violation of speed exceeding 30 MPH, a violation of load dropping (load not secured); or a violation of passing a stopped school bus on enter/exit side.
Payment should be made within 30 days of the date the ticket was issued (please allow 5 days for the officer to turn the ticket over to the Clerk’s Office). Payment can be made by mail, using the envelope provided by the officer, or in person by coming to suite 203 on the 1st floor of the Clerk of Court’s Office, or at the Clerk’s Office in the county in which the infraction occurred or online at www.myfloridacounty.com. 
Customers are also able to access the MyFloridaCounty Traffic IVR toll free by dialing (855)984-1187 on any touch tone phone. This IVR accepts all major credit and debit cards to pay the full amount but requires a waiver of the option for traffic school and charges an additional 3.5%.
All traffic violations issued within Franklin County are processed in the Clerk of Circuit Court’s Office. Office hours at 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
If you received a payable infraction citation, you must either pay the citation within thirty (30) days from the date you received the citation or choose one of the following (4) options to resolve the ticket:
- Pay the Citation
- Plead Not Guilty
- Elect to Attend Driver Improvement School
- Enter a Plea of Nolo Contendere on certain offenses
To prevent the suspension of your driver’s license, compliance with one of these options must be made within thirty (30) calendar days from the date the ticket was issued.
There is no grace period!
Pay the Citation
You can pay the citation in person or by mail. We accept cash, money orders or VISA, MasterCard, DISCOVER over the counter and online payments with VISA and MasterCard at www.myfloridacounty.com. Customers are also able to access the MyFloridaCounty Traffic IVR toll free by dialing (855)984-1187 on any touch tone phone. This IVR accepts all major credit and debit cards to pay the full amount but requires a waiver of the option for traffic school and charges an additional 3.5%.
If you mail your payment, DO NOT SEND CASH OR CHECKS. Pay the amount indicated on the back of your citation/and or the amount indicated on the pre-printed envelope that the officer has given you. Enclose a copy of the citation to ensure proper credit. Points, if applicable, will be assessed. If paying your traffic fine by mail, please make cashiers check or money order payable to Michele Maxwell, Clerk, or complete a credit card payment form and send it in. See forms center on the menu.
Franklin County Clerk of Circuit Court
Attn: Traffic Division
33 Market Street, Suite 203
Apalachicola, FL 32320
If you have been charged with safety equipment violations, you may have the defect corrected and submit an Affidavit of Compliance, along with a $88.00 fee. If you have been charged with a tag, registration, driver license, or insurance violation, you may dismiss for $10.00 if you furnish proof that you had the document at the time you were charged and the document was valid.
Plead Not Guilty
To plead not guilty, you must make your request for a hearing to the Clerk within thirty (30) days of the date the ticket was received.
You will be notified by mail of your court date.
Franklin County Clerk of Circuit Court
Attn: Traffic Division
33 Market Street, Suite 203
Apalachicola, FL 32320
You must appear at court as noticed or you can send an Affidavit of Defense or Admission and Waiver of Appearance form to our office.
Elect to Attend Driver Improvement School
Elect to Attend Driver Improvement School
By electing to attend a driver improvement school, no points will be assessed to your driving record. This election can only be made once within a twelve-month period and only (5) times within a lifetime. Within thirty (30) days of receiving your citation, you must pay the fine and fill out the Affidavit for Traffic School form, and file it with the Clerk’s Office. You will be granted an extra ninety (90) days from the date you signed the affidavit to sign up, complete, and provide proof of completion to the Clerk’s Office. Failure to provide proof of completion of the driving school will result in the suspension of your driver’s license. You will then be required to pay additional fines and fees and points will be assessed against your license. Even though you did not provide proof of completion of the class, your election will count as one of your 5 allowable elections.
You can attend any State of Florida -approved course. Check in the yellow pages of your telephone directory under “Driver Instruction”. You can also take this course via the Internet. Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Enter a Plea of Nolo Contendere on certain offenses
If you were charged with a violation of 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 enter this plea in lieu of payment listed on the citation or the court appearance. You must send the Nolo Contender Plea form to our office and pay the following fees and costs: $72.90 for insurance violations (316.646(1); and $93.25 for Tag, Registration, and Driver License violations. You must provide a valid driver license, tag, registration, or proof of insurance to our office. You must not have made this election within the last 12 months. You must not have pled nolo contendere previously under 318.14(10)(a) three times in your life. If your plea is accepted, our office will withhold adjudication.
Where do I mail my traffic fine?
If your traffic citation was issued in Franklin County, mail payment to:
Franklin County Clerk of Circuit Court
Attn: Traffic Division
33 Market Street, Suite 203
Apalachicola, FL 32320
When must my traffic citation be paid?
Payment of a traffic citation must be received in the Clerk’s Office within thirty (30) calendar days of the citation issue date. Remember that if you are mailing your payment, it must be received in our office by the 30th day. Payments received after the 30th day will be considered delinquent and will be subjected to late fees and/or a suspension of your driver’s license.
May I get an extension of time beyond the 30 days to pay my citation?
Yes. Additional time to pay a traffic fine may be granted by coming to the Traffic Department of the Franklin County Courthouse or by calling 850-653-8861 ext. 104.
If my citation was issued outside of Franklin County, may I pay the fine in Franklin County?
No. The Clerk in Franklin County can accept payment for traffic citations issued only in Franklin County. If your citation was issued outside of Franklin County, contact the Clerk in the county of issue. All citations issued in Franklin County must be paid in Franklin County.
What will happen if I fail to pay my traffic citation within 30 days?
You will be assessed a late fee of $23.00 and a report will be mailed to the Department of Highway Safety to suspend your driver’s license. Your driver’s license will remain suspended until payment, including the late fee, is paid and the ticket will be turned over to a collection agency and more fees added. Upon payment in full of your citation, you will be issued a D6 clearance form. This clearance must be presented to any office of the Department of Highway Safety or if you are a resident of Florida and this is your only outstanding citation, your driving privileges may be reinstated through the Clerk of Court’s Office.
How can I reinstate my driver’s license for failure to pay a traffic fine?
The Clerk’s Office can assist you in reinstating your license. If there are other reasons for the suspension, you will need to go to a driver’s license office for reinstatement. A reinstatement fee is required. If the citation has been turned over to our collection agency, you may have to contact them.
How do I keep from having points assessed to my license?
You may elect to attend traffic school if you have not done so within the past 12 months and have not attended more than five times in your lifetime. In some instances, our County Judge may be able to withhold the points. Please contact the Clerk’s Office for details.
If I complete traffic school, will my insurance rates increase?
Your insurance company will make that decision. Please contact them with this question.
How do I contact a traffic school?
Florida law prohibits the Clerk or any governmental entity from referring individuals to a particular Traffic School; however, you are directed to the telephone directory yellow pages under the listing “Driving Instruction”.
Can I attend traffic school anywhere?
You may attend traffic school anywhere in the State of Florida, including approved online schools.
How long will I have to complete traffic school?
Your certificate of completion of traffic school must be received in this office no later than 90 days after the date you signed for the election. (Signed Affidavit). A certificate received after the 90th day will be considered delinquent. Late fees and/or a suspension of your driver’s license may apply and the ticket will be turned over to a collection agent. It is advisable to contact and enroll in a traffic school as soon as possible to ensure the completion being filed on time.
If I went to traffic school recently for another citation, may I go again?
No. Traffic school may be elected only once within a 12-month period and no more than 5 times total in your lifetime.