Please note the following changes for all civil traffic citations issued on or after April 1, 2024.
Driving school MUST be elected, prior to paying your citation and within 30 days from the date the citation was written.
If you attend driving school prior to paying your citation, it will be an automatic adjudication of guilt and points will be assessed to your license. Review Option 2 (below) for more details.
When you receive your citation, you have three options:
Option 1 – Pay the fine
- You must make payment within 90 calendar days from the date the citation was issued.
- You may pay online at MyFloridaCounty.com within 30 days from the date the citation was issued. After 30 days payment must be made with the Clerk’s Office, either by phone at 386-326-7680, in person by visiting our Customer Service Department or by mail via PO Box 758, Palatka FL 32178.
- If you are unable to pay your citation within 90 days, you may visit our Customer Service Department and sign up for a payment plan. There is a $25.00 fee to initiate a payment plan. The payment plan is good for 4 months from date of initiation. Failure to complete payment plan within 4 months will result in additional fees and license suspension.
Option 2 – Attend Driver Improvement School
Driving school MUST be elected prior to paying your citation. If you attend driver improvement school and do not elect this option prior to payment, it will be an automatic adjudication of guilt and points will be assessed to your license.
Traffic school is ONLY an option if you meet the following criteria:
- You have not attended driver improvement school within the last 12 months.
- You do not hold a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)
- You have not elected driver improvement school more than five (5) times in your lifetime.
- Election can be made online at myfloridacounty.com or in the Customer Service Department at the Clerk’s Office.
- Driving school MUST be elected prior to paying your citation and within 30 days from the date the citation was written.
- You are required to pay the reduced fine amount at time of election. You have 60 days to complete the elected course and provide the Clerk’s Office with the certificate of completion. Failure to complete traffic school, once elected, will result in additional fees, license suspension and the points being assessed to your driving record.
You may find a list of Basic Driver Improvement courses approved by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Option 3 – Request a Court Hearing – Deny the Violation
- You must complete a Court Option Form to request a civil hearing to be scheduled. This form can be found on our website, com . You may also obtain the form in our Customer Service Department. PLEASE NOTE: The Court Option Form must be signed in the presence of a Notary Public or Deputy Clerk.
