Where to search for your Broward County traffic ticket
Broward County traffic tickets are searchable through the Broward County Clerk of Courts website, which maintains records for violations issued by Broward Sheriff's Office, local police departments, and Florida Highway Patrol within the county. You can search by your name, driver's license number, or case number if you have it. The search is free and takes a few minutes.
Go to browardclerk.org, then navigate to the "Traffic" or "Case Search" section. You'll enter your information and the system will return any open citations or cases associated with your record. If a ticket was issued recently, it may take 7 to 14 days to appear in the system, so don't assume it's missing if you were stopped last week.
If you were stopped by a state trooper on an interstate or state highway, the ticket may be filed through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles instead. In that case, the Broward Clerk search won't show it—you'd need to search the state system at flhsmv.gov or contact the trooper's agency directly.
Key Takeaways
- The Broward County Clerk of Courts website lets you search for traffic tickets by name, driver's license number, or case number at no cost.
- Tickets issued by Broward Sheriff's Office and local police appear in the Broward Clerk system within 7 to 14 days of the stop.
- State trooper citations on interstates are filed through the Florida state system, not the county clerk, and require a separate search.
- Once you find your ticket, you can pay the fine directly through the clerk's website, by mail, or in person at the courthouse.
What information you'll need to search
The Broward Clerk search accepts three main pieces of information: your full name, your Florida driver's license number, or your case number if you already have one from a citation or court notice. You don't need all three—any one will work. If you're searching by name, the system may return multiple results if your name is common, so having your driver's license number handy narrows it down faster.
If you don't have your driver's license number memorized, you can look it up on your physical license or insurance card. If you received a written citation at the traffic stop, the case number is printed on the ticket itself, usually in the upper right corner. Using the case number is the fastest way to pull up your exact ticket.
How to pay your Broward County traffic ticket online
Once you've found your ticket in the Broward Clerk system, you can pay the fine directly through their website using a credit card, debit card, or electronic check. The clerk's website will show the fine amount, any court costs, and the due date. Payment is processed when ready, and you'll receive a confirmation number and receipt.
Online payment is available 24 hours a day and typically costs less than paying by phone or in person, since there are no processing fees added by the clerk. However, if your ticket is part of an active case or you have a court date scheduled, paying the fine online may not resolve the case—you may still need to appear in court or contact the State Attorney's office to discuss your options.
If you prefer not to pay online, you can mail a check or money order to the Broward County Clerk of Courts, Traffic Division, with your case number written on the back. Payment by mail usually takes 7 to 10 business days to process. You can also pay in person at the clerk's office during business hours.
What happens if you don't pay or respond to a ticket
If you don't pay a Broward County traffic ticket by the due date or request a court hearing, the clerk will report the violation to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. This can result in a suspended driver's license, additional fines, and a failure-to-appear charge, which is a separate criminal offense in Florida.
A suspended license means you cannot legally drive in Florida or most other states, and driving on a suspended license carries criminal penalties. The suspension remains in place until you pay the ticket, appear in court, or resolve the case. If you received a ticket and cannot pay when ready, contact the clerk's office or the State Attorney's office to ask about payment plans or court date options.
Contesting a ticket or requesting a court date
If you want to contest the ticket or discuss it with a judge, you must request a court hearing before the due date shown on your citation. In Broward County, you can request a hearing through the clerk's website, by mail, or in person. The request must be made in writing and include your case number and driver's license number.
Once you request a hearing, you'll be assigned a court date, usually 4 to 8 weeks out. You'll receive a notice in the mail with the date and time. At the hearing, you can present your side of the story to a judge or traffic magistrate. The State Attorney's office may also be present to represent the citation. If you're unsure about your options, you can contact the Public Defender's office or a traffic attorney for guidance.
Broward County traffic ticket search by agency
Traffic tickets in Broward County are issued by several different agencies, and all of them file through the Broward County Clerk of Courts. The most common issuing agencies are the Broward Sheriff's Office, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Deerfield Beach Police, Pompano Beach Police, and the Florida Highway Patrol. Regardless of which agency issued your ticket, the search process is the same—use the Broward Clerk website.
If you were stopped on a state road or interstate, the ticket may have been issued by the Florida Highway Patrol. These citations are still filed in the Broward County system if the stop occurred within the county, but they may take slightly longer to appear. If you can't find a state trooper ticket in the Broward Clerk system after two weeks, contact the Florida Highway Patrol directly at their non-emergency number to confirm it was filed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for a ticket to show up in the Broward Clerk search?
Most tickets appear in the Broward County Clerk system within 7 to 14 days of the traffic stop. If you were stopped recently and can't find your ticket, wait a few days and search again. If more than two weeks have passed and the ticket still doesn't appear, contact the issuing agency directly to confirm it was filed.
Can I search for someone else's traffic ticket?
The Broward Clerk search is public record, so you can search for anyone's ticket if you have their name or driver's license number. However, you cannot pay someone else's ticket online—only the person cited or their attorney can make payment or request a court hearing.
What if I lost my citation and don't have a case number?
Search the Broward Clerk website using your full name and driver's license number. The system will return all open cases associated with your record. If you still can't find it, call the Broward County Clerk of Courts at their main number and provide your information—they can look it up for you.
Do I have to pay the ticket if I plan to contest it?
No. When you request a court hearing, you do not have to pay the fine upfront. You can contest the ticket in court first. If the judge finds you guilty, you'll be ordered to pay at that time. If you're found not guilty, no payment is due.
What if my license is already suspended because of an unpaid ticket?
Pay the ticket as soon as possible through the Broward Clerk website or in person. Once payment is processed, contact the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to request reinstatement of your license. There may be an additional reinstatement fee, which varies depending on the reason for suspension.