Civil Traffic Violations
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, or a violation for leaving a child in a vehicle unattended.
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 in the form of a cashier’s check/money order, in person by coming to room 110 on the first floor of the Clerk of Court’s Office, at the Clerk’s Office in the county in which the infraction occurred. Payments can also be made with credit/debit cards. Click here to pay online.
Your options for a Traffic Citation
If you received a payable infraction citation, you must either pay the citation in full within thirty (30) days from the date you received the citation or choose one of the following three (3) options to resolve the ticket:
- Option 1: Pead guilty, accept points on your driver license and pay the ticket
- Option 2: Pay the ticket and Elect Traffic School to withhold adjudication off your driving record
- Option 3: Contest the ticket and request a court hearing
Option 1 - Pay the Ticket
If you choose to pay the ticket, points are assessed against your driver license.
Pay Online , by mail with a Money Order or Cashier's Check, in person or by phone by calling 855-796-5762.
Option 2 - Go To Traffic 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) five times within your lifetime. Within thirty (30) days of receiving your citation, you must pay the fine, (see the Driver Improvement Fines Schedule), and fill out the Affidavit For Traffic School form, and file it with the Clerk’s Office.
Traffic School Election Affidavit
You will be granted an extra fifty (50) days from the date you signed the affidavit to sign up and complete driving school and provide proof of completion to the Clerk’s Office. Failure to provide proof of completion will result in the suspension of your driver’s license, the payment of 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 in a lifetime.
Option 3 - Contesting Your Ticket
To plead not guilty, you must make a request for a hearing to the Clerk within thirty (30) days of the date the ticket was received by completing and filing the Plea of Not Guilty form with the Clerk’s Office.
Plead Not Guilty
If you are unable to appear in person for the hearing, you must post an appearance bond at the time you request the hearing. You will be notified by mail of your court date.
To post an appearance bond, you must pay the fine at the time you send in your request to plead “Not Guilty”.
DO NOT SEND CASH. Pay the amount indicated on the back of your citation and/or the amount indicated on the pre-printed envelope that the office has given you.
Please make cashiers check or money order payable to Bill Kinsaul, Clerk of Court. Enclose the request, the cashiers check or money order and the yellow copy of your ticket and send to:
Bay County Clerk of Court
Attn: Traffic Division
PO Box 2269
Panama City, FL 32402
Bill Kinsaul, Clerk of Court
Attn: Traffic Division
300 East 4th Street
Panama City, FL 32401
