Getting a speeding ticket in Florida can feel like more than just a fine, because it can hit your insurance, your driving record, and even your job if you’re behind the wheel for a living. Whether you were clocked doing 10 over or got pulled for a more serious offense, you might still have options to fight it, reduce the impact, or even get it dismissed. In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly what to do next and how the right steps can save you hundreds or even thousands in the long run.
What Are Your Options After Getting a Speeding Ticket in Florida?
In Florida, most speeding tickets are civil infractions unless the officer believes your speed was dangerously high or reckless, in which case it can turn into a criminal charge. After the ticket is issued, you’ve got a few choices to make:
- Pay the fine
This is the fastest route, but it’s also the one that sticks. Paying means you admit guilt, take the license points, and risk a hike in your insurance rates, sometimes for years. - Elect traffic school
If you qualify, you can take a driver improvement course to avoid the points. You still pay the fine, but the course keeps the violation off your record. Florida only allows this option once every 12 months, up to five times in your lifetime. - Fight the ticket in court
This is where you can challenge the evidence, negotiate a lesser charge, or even get the ticket dismissed entirely. You can represent yourself or hire an attorney to handle everything for you, often without needing to appear in court.
Whichever path you’re thinking about, it helps to know what each one really means for your driving record, your insurance, and your wallet.
Will The Ticket Go On My Record and Affect My Insurance?
If you just pay the ticket, it lands on your driving record as a moving violation, and that’s exactly what your insurance company pays attention to. They don’t care whether you showed up in court or not. They look at your motor vehicle record, and even one ticket can lead to a noticeable rate hike. For many Florida drivers, that means paying more every month for years.
You’re especially at risk for higher premiums if:
- You’ve had other tickets or accidents in the last few years
- You drive for work, like ridesharing, trucking, or delivery
- You’re under 25, where insurers already assume you’re a higher-risk driver.
The fine might be a one-time cost, but the insurance impact adds up fast. We’ve seen cases where rates jumped by hundreds, or even thousands, a year after just one violation. In many situations, it’s actually cheaper to hire a lawyer and fight it than to pay the ticket and let your insurance climb.
We’ve mentioned a lot about points, and understanding Florida’s point system helps explain why even a single ticket can snowball into long-term costs. Here’s how it works, and why keeping those points off your record matters.
How Florida’s Point System Works and Why County Policies Matter
In Florida, traffic violations aren’t just a slap on the wrist. Under Florida Statute § 322.27, every speeding ticket adds points to your driving record:
- 3 points for under 15 mph over the limit
- 4 points for more than 15 over
- 6 points if your speeding caused a crash.
Get 12 points in 12 months, and your license is suspended for 30 days. Rack up 18 points in 18 months, and that suspension stretches to 3 months. These points stay on your record for 3 to 5 years and can lead to massive insurance hikes or job-related consequences if you drive for work. While your chances of fighting a traffic ticket in Florida with a lawyer are better than most people think.
How to Fight a Speeding Ticket in Florida
You might be surprised at how often speeding tickets don’t stick, especially with the right strategy. In Florida, we’ve seen tickets tossed because the officer didn’t show up, radar calibration was off, or the citation had basic errors. Even when a full dismissal isn’t likely, many drivers still walk away with reduced charges, no points, and no insurance spike. Your odds are better than you think, especially if you take the right approach. Here’s what actually works:
- Hire a traffic lawyer
Attorneys who work Florida traffic courts every day know how to spot weak evidence, handle negotiations, and push for reductions or dismissals. Many times, you won’t even need to appear in court. - Negotiate a lesser charge
Counties like Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Orange, and Hillsborough often allow plea deals, especially for first-time offenders. That can mean getting the charge reduced to a non-moving violation, which keeps points and insurance increases off your record. - Take a driver improvement course
If you qualify, this keeps points off your license. Florida allows this once every 12 months, up to five times total. It won’t dismiss the ticket entirely, but it protects your driving record. - Challenge the officer’s evidence
Radar and lidar equipment must be properly calibrated and used. You can request maintenance records, and dashcam footage or weather reports can raise doubts about how accurate the speed reading was. - Look for errors or procedural issues
Incorrect vehicle details, wrong statutes cited, or gaps in the officer’s report can work in your favor. FOIA requests can uncover bodycam footage or training logs that may help your case. - Show up prepared and respectful
If you’re representing yourself, your tone and preparation matter. Judges sometimes reduce penalties when drivers are calm, respectful, and take responsibility. - Think long-term
Avoiding points isn’t just about this ticket—it’s about preventing future insurance hikes and protecting your driving privileges. Sometimes it’s worth paying more now to save yourself from bigger costs later.
With the right legal help and a smart defense, your chances of getting a Florida speeding ticket dismissed, or at least reduced, are stronger than most people realize.
What About Trial by Declaration or Going to Court Myself?
Florida doesn’t offer a trial by declaration option like some other states do. That means you can’t just mail in your side of the story and hope for a dismissal. If you want to contest your speeding ticket, you either have to show up in court yourself or hire an attorney to appear on your behalf.
You can represent yourself, and you might succeed, especially if you’re polite, prepared, and have a clean driving record. But going in alone means learning how your local court handles these cases, what the judge expects, and how to talk through your defense without making things worse. Judges often give more weight to a case when a lawyer is involved, especially one who knows the courtroom and the people in it.
When you hire a traffic attorney, they handle everything from filing paperwork, showing up in court, even negotiating with the prosecutor, and in most cases, you don’t need to miss work or step into the courtroom at all. That can be a big relief when you’re already stressed about what the ticket could cost you. If you’ve already agreed to a ticket but haven’t paid for it yet, that opens up a whole new set of problems.
What Happens If You Don’t Pay a Traffic Ticket in Florida?
Ignoring a traffic ticket in Florida doesn’t make it go away, but it usually makes everything worse. If you miss the deadline to pay, the court will report it to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), and your driver’s license will be suspended. That suspension stays in place until the fine is paid, plus any late fees or reinstatement costs.
Driving on a suspended license is a criminal offense in Florida, according to Florida Statutes 322.34. If you’re pulled over again, you could face hefty fines, points on your license, or even jail time. And if your license gets suspended for too long, you may have to take additional steps to reinstate it, like retaking parts of the driving test or filing extra paperwork.
Unpaid tickets also show up on your driving record, and that can raise red flags with insurance companies or employers who run background checks. For drivers with CDLs or jobs that require a clean driving record, this could cost you more than just your license, but also put your job at risk.
Even if you can’t pay it right away, don’t ignore it. You may be able to fight it, ask for more time, or work with a lawyer to get it reduced or dismissed. But doing nothing is almost always the most expensive option in the end.
How a Florida Traffic Ticket Lawyer Helps Your Case
If you think that you can’t afford a lawyer, in many cases, it’s actually the more affordable choice. Most traffic attorneys in Florida charge a flat fee, often less than the cost of your ticket plus years of higher insurance premiums. When even a single speeding violation can raise your rates by hundreds a year, hiring a lawyer can save you far more than it costs. You avoid missing work, save time, and keep your record clean. Your insurance stays low, and you stay off the radar for future rate increases. For a lot of drivers, hiring a lawyer is the one move that protects their wallet and their license at the same time.
At Steinger, Greene & Feiner, our traffic attorneys know exactly what to look for, such as ticket errors, radar issues, gaps in procedure, and how to use that to your advantage. We’ve helped thousands of Florida drivers get their tickets dismissed or reduced to non-moving violations with no points added and no insurance spike. Because we work in courts across the state every day, we know what each judge or prosecutor is likely to accept, and how to get you the best result with the least stress.
Got a ticket? Don’t just pay it, call us first. A quick conversation with our team could save you hundreds and keep your record clean. Schedule your free consultation now and let’s fight this together.