Traffic-Criminal
A criminal traffic charge is indicated on the lower front side of the traffic ticket. A criminal traffic charge is a violation of Florida Statutes which requires a court appearance. Some examples are:
- Driving While License is Suspended
- Driving Under the Influence
- Reckless Driving
Criminal charges carry penalties which may include fines and court costs, probation and/or the possibility of a jail term. Persons charged with a criminal offense will receive a citation indicating a court date, time and location. A person may also be arrested on a criminal traffic charge and booked into the county jail.
Most criminal traffic offenses are bondable offenses according to the bail schedule. The duty judge usually sees individuals arrested on criminal traffic charges within twenty-four hours of their arrest. At first appearance, bail is set, and the court determines whether the accused can pay for counsel. A Public Defender will be appointed if the defendant is found to be indigent (unable to pay for counsel).
View information on payment options that are currently available for criminal fees & fines.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Those persons charged with a criminal offense must appear in court at the time and date indicated on their citation or on page 3 of their arrest paperwork. Failure to appear could result in a capias being issued for their arrest.
Additional fees may be assessed for failure to appear or non-payment of court costs..
Frequently Asked Questions
- I missed my court date, can I reschedule?
Please contact our office at (352) 742-3820 for further details.
- I've received a letter from Tallahassee; what do I do?
Most letters are explaining ways to handle a suspension or are informing you of a suspension that is about to occur. Some letters are informing the person of a traffic collision class that they must take within a certain time due to an accident they had. It is important to follow the directions of the letter to avoid or to help correct a suspension.