Frequently Asked Questions

Any person charged with a moving or non-moving violation, other than violations involving driver’s licenses, vehicle registration, or proof of insurance, is eligible to elect to attend a basic driver improvement course in lieu of accumulating points on the driver history record. Effective July 1, 2005, per s. 318.14(9) and (10), drivers holding a commercial license may no longer make a school election.

There are two benefits:

• No points will be assessed against your driver’s license.
• Attending a basic driver improvement course to satisfy the violation will be entered on your driver history record as an "adjudication withheld."

Yes, the civil penalty is required by law to be paid in addition to the cost for the driving course which may range from $20 to $35. At the time of the election, please refer to your local telephone directory under the heading "Driving Instruction" for the names and locations of the basic driver improvement course nearest you."

Visit the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website for a list of approved driving schools. Traffic school enrollment fees apply in addition to any fees listed for your citation. Traffic school and applicable fees must be completed 90 days from the selection of traffic school.

You are not required to submit a copy of your proof of completion to the Clerk's office. Florida law (F.S. 318.1451) requires traffic schools to electronically file your certificate with our office within 5 days of your course completion. It is your responsibility to verify that the school filed your certificate of completion by using our online court records portal. If you don't see that your course completion certificate has been filed, then please contact your traffic school provider. For a list of traffic school providers, please visit the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website.

If you elect to attend a basic driver improvement course, you must enroll and complete the course, with proof of completion being presented to the Clerk’s office, within 90 calendar days of your election. If you fail to meet any one of these requirements for any reason, an additional delinquency fee will be owed, your driver’s license will be suspended, a reinstatement fee to reinstate your privilege to drive will be required, and a conviction of the violation will be reported on your driver history record. If you contact the Clerk’s office before the 90 days and state that you no longer wish to attend the basic driver improvement course. You will be assessed either the 9 percent or 18 percent reduction of the base fine received at the time of payment. If you elected on a wireless communication citation, you will be assessed the $60 base fine plus the $18 processing fee to the case, per section 318.15 Florida Statute.  Upon receipt of the fees, the case will be closed and the points will be assessed to the license. 

You may make an election to attend a basic driver improvement course to satisfy an eligible traffic violation one time in a 12 month period, but no more than eight times within a lifetime.

You must make your election and pay the associated fines and costs to attend a basic driver improvement course in the county in which your ticket was issued. You may, however, attend a basic driver improvement course approved by the State of Florida, in the location of your choice. Refer to your local telephone directory for the names and locations of basic driver improvement courses in other counties.

For information on the election requirements and costs involved, contact the nearest Traffic Department of the Clerk’s office. For information on the basic driver improvement course locations, hours, and costs, contact an approved school. A listing of names, addresses, and phone numbers of approved schools are available in your local telephone directory under "Driving Instructions."