Steps to Complete Traffic School in Florida
Contact the Clerk of Court: If you decide to elect traffic school, you should contact the Clerk of Court in the county where you received the citation. You can typically find the Clerk of Court's contact information on the citation itself. Inform them that you would like to attend traffic school to avoid points on your driving record. Some counties allow you to pay your ticket and make the traffic school election on their website.
Pay the Fine and Fees: You will need to pay the fine associated with your traffic citation, as well as any additional administrative fees imposed by the court. These fees can vary depending on the county, and discounts are often given for making the traffic school election. Be sure to pay these fees promptly (usually within 30 days from the date you received the ticket), as this is often a requirement for being eligible to attend traffic school.
Choose between an online or in-person course, depending on your preferences and availability. Also be aware that some counties require that you pay the fine before you take the class. You will be given additional time to complete the course and submit your certificate by the county - typically 60 or 90 days.
Register for the traffic school course. You will need to provide information from your traffic citation during the registration process, like your ticket number and information from your driver license, so have that ready. If you received more than one ticket, please make sure to provide the correct citation number. This infomation cannot be changed after the certificate of completion has been generated.
Complete the Course: Attend and successfully complete the traffic school course. The course typically covers topics such as Florida traffic laws, defensive driving techniques, and safe driving practices. Basic Driver Improvement courses in Florida are four hours long.
Pass the Final Exam: At the end of the course, you will usually need to pass a final exam. The passing score is typically 80% or higher. If you fail the final exam, you will have the opportunity to retake it.
Receive a Completion Certificate: Upon successful completion of the course and passing the final exam, you will receive a completion certificate. Keep a copy of this certificate for your records.
Submit the Certificate: Submit the completion certificate to the Clerk of Court where you paid the ticket as instructed on your traffic citation. This step is crucial to ensure that your completion is recorded, and points are not added to your driving record.
Remember to follow the specific instructions provided by the court and the DHSMV to ensure that your election of traffic school is processed correctly and that you receive the intended benefits of avoiding points on your driving record.