Gulf County Traffic Attorney

Traffic ticket Attorneys serving Port St. Joe, Florida

There are almost 400 criminal violations that were ticketed in Gulf County, Florida annually and more than 200 of those are for DUI and DWLS. Driving with a suspended license and driving under the influence, sometimes referred to as drunk driving, account for 62% of the moving criminal violations cited in Gulf County. Most other tickets for criminal moving violations were issued in small amounts. Other criminal traffic violations in Gulf County include reckless driving tickets, and leaving the scene of an accident (hit-and-run) citations.

Speeding tickets are the overwhelming majority of non-criminal moving violations. Of the nearly 1000 tickets written in this category in Gulf County, more than half are for violation of a posted speed limit (Speeding tickets). The only other traffic ticket that is written more than 100 times every year is for running a red light. Other traffic tickets written in Gulf County include careless driving, running a stop sign, improper passing, improper lane change or failure to yield the right of way.

If you are going to pay a ticket in Gulf County and you want to do it in person, the Clerk of Courts office is located in Port St. Joe, Florida. You can choose to challenge the ticket in traffic court or participate in a driver education course. Either way you must inform the Gulf County clerk of courts of your intentions.

Located along the Florida panhandle, Gulf County, Florida has a population of around 15,000. This county has the unique distinction of being located within two different time zones: central and eastern. It contains 555 square miles of land mass and has a population density of 28 people per square mile.

Due to low development, the county is an excellent place to enjoy unspoiled beaches. Part of St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge lies within this county. The county seat is found in Port St. Joe, and other towns here include Wewahitchka and Highland View.

Courts and Law Enforcement

Gulf County is located in the 14th Judicial Circuit of Florida. The courthouse is located in Port St. Joe, and this is also the location of the circuit court. Rebecca Norris is the clerk of courts and is responsible for receiving payment for traffic citations issued in this county. These citations may be paid at her office or online. While paying a ticket online, motorists can also schedule driver improvement training so that no points will be assessed against their driver’s license.

Traffic Offenses

Failure to yield the right-of-way, speeding less than 15 mph, and minors driving after restricted hours are common traffic offenses here in Gulf County. These offenses amount to three points against an individual’s driving record. Those who are found guilty of reckless driving or moving violations that result in a vehicular accident are assessed four points. It jumps to six points for those who flee the scene of an accident when property damage is involved.

Driver Improvement Program

Those who are cited for a traffic offense can take comfort in knowing there is a way to avoid accumulating points. That method is by undergoing driver improvement training. This course is free and is limited to one instance per year or five instances per lifetime. After attending one of these courses, no points will be added to a driving record nor will insurance premiums increase as a result.

License Suspensions

Drivers can have their license suspended if they accumulate a certain number of points within a given time frame. The varying levels according to Florida law are:

12 points in a 12-month period – Suspension of a license for 30 days

18 points in an 18-month period – Suspension of a license for three months

24 points in a 36-month period – Suspension of a license for one year

Other Considerations

Those who hold a commercial driver’s license are not afforded the opportunity to attend driver improvement courses. This means that points continue to accrue each time they are cited. Minors are limited to only six points in a 12-month period before receiving a conditional driver’s license for an entire year.

Minors, commercial drivers and those close to their maximum point limit may want to consult with a Gulf County traffic attorney when they receive a ticket. In some cases, it can be beneficial to contest the citation in court rather than pay the fine and therefore plead guilty. For more information, those in the Tallahassee, Florida area are encouraged to contact a traffic lawyer as soon as possible after the incident.