The Florida Senate

318.18  Amount of civil penalties.--The penalties required for a noncriminal disposition pursuant to s. 318.14 are as follows:

(1)  Fifteen dollars for:

(a)  All infractions of pedestrian regulations.

(b)  All infractions of s. 316.2065, unless otherwise specified.

(c)  Other violations of chapter 316 by persons 14 years of age or under who are operating bicycles, regardless of the noncriminal traffic infraction's classification.

(2)  Thirty dollars for all nonmoving traffic violations and:

(a)  For all violations of s. 322.19

(b)  For all violations of ss. 320.0605, 320.07(1), 322.065, and 322.15(1). Any person who is cited for a violation of s. 320.07(1) shall be charged a delinquent fee pursuant to s. 320.07(4).

1.  If a person who is cited for a violation of s. 320.0605 or s. 320.07 can show proof of having a valid registration at the time of arrest, the clerk of the court may dismiss the case and may assess a dismissal fee of up to $7.50. A person who finds it impossible or impractical to obtain a valid registration certificate must submit an affidavit detailing the reasons for the impossibility or impracticality. The reasons may include, but are not limited to, the fact that the vehicle was sold, stolen, or destroyed; that the state in which the vehicle is registered does not issue a certificate of registration; or that the vehicle is owned by another person.

2.  If a person who is cited for a violation of s. 322.03, s. 322.065, or s. 322.15 can show a driver's license issued to him or her and valid at the time of arrest, the clerk of the court may dismiss the case and may assess a dismissal fee of up to $7.50.

3.  If a person who is cited for a violation of s. 316.646 can show proof of security as required by s. 627.733, issued to the person and valid at the time of arrest, the clerk of the court may dismiss the case and may assess a dismissal fee of up to $7.50. A person who finds it impossible or impractical to obtain proof of security must submit an affidavit detailing the reasons for the impracticality. The reasons may include, but are not limited to, the fact that the vehicle has since been sold, stolen, or destroyed; that the owner or registrant of the vehicle is not required by s. 627.733 to maintain personal injury protection insurance; or that the vehicle is owned by another person.

(c)  For all violations of ss. 316.2935 and 316.610 However, for a violation of s. 316.2935 or s. 316.610, if the person committing the violation corrects the defect and obtains proof of such timely repair by an affidavit of compliance executed by the law enforcement agency within 30 days from the date upon which the traffic citation was issued, and pays $4 to the law enforcement agency, thereby completing the affidavit of compliance, then upon presentation of said affidavit by the defendant to the clerk within the 30-day time period set forth under s. 318.14(4), the fine must be reduced to $7.50, which the clerk of the court shall retain.

(d)  For all violations of s. 316.126(1)(b), unless otherwise specified.

(3)(a)  Except as otherwise provided in this section, $60 for all moving violations not requiring a mandatory appearance.

(b)  For moving violations involving unlawful speed, the fines are as follows:


For speed exceeding the limit by:

Fine:

1-5 m.p.h. ............ Warning
6-9 m.p.h. ............ $ 25
10-14 m.p.h. ............ $100
15-19 m.p.h. ............ $125
20-29 m.p.h. ............ $150
30 m.p.h. and above ............ $250

(c)  Notwithstanding paragraph (b), a person cited for exceeding the speed limit by up to 5 m.p.h. in a legally posted school zone will be fined $50. A person exceeding the speed limit in a school zone shall pay a fine double the amount listed in paragraph (b).

(d)  A person cited for exceeding the speed limit in a posted construction zone shall pay a fine double the amount listed in paragraph (b). The fine shall be doubled for construction zone violations only if construction personnel are present or operating equipment on the road or immediately adjacent to the road under construction.

(e)  If a violation of s. 316.1301 or s. 316.1303 results in an injury to the pedestrian or damage to the property of the pedestrian, an additional fine of up to $250 shall be paid. This amount must be distributed pursuant to s. 318.21

(f)  A person cited for exceeding the speed limit within a zone posted for any electronic or manual toll collection facility shall pay a fine double the amount listed in paragraph (b). However, no person cited for exceeding the speed limit in any toll collection zone shall be subject to a doubled fine unless the governmental entity or authority controlling the toll collection zone first installs a traffic control device providing warning that speeding fines are doubled. Any such traffic control device must meet the requirements of the uniform system of traffic control devices.

(4)  The penalty imposed under s. 316.545 shall be determined by the officer in accordance with the provisions of ss. 316.535 and 316.545

(5)(a)  One hundred dollars for a violation of s. 316.172(1)(a), failure to stop for a school bus. If, at a hearing, the alleged offender is found to have committed this offense, the court shall impose a minimum civil penalty of $100. In addition to this penalty, for a second or subsequent offense within a period of 5 years, the department shall suspend the driver's license of the person for not less than 90 days and not more than 6 months.

(b)  Two hundred dollars for a violation of s. 316.172(1)(b), passing a school bus on the side that children enter and exit when the school bus displays a stop signal. If, at a hearing, the alleged offender is found to have committed this offense, the court shall impose a minimum civil penalty of $200. In addition to this penalty, for a second or subsequent offense within a period of 5 years, the department shall suspend the driver's license of the person for not less than 180 days and not more than 1 year.

(6)  One hundred dollars or the fine amount designated by county ordinance, plus court costs for illegally parking, under s. 316.1955, in a parking space provided for people who have disabilities. However, this fine will be waived if a person provides to the law enforcement agency that issued the citation for such a violation proof that the person committing the violation has a valid parking permit or license plate issued pursuant to s. 316.1958, s. 320.0842, s. 320.0843, s. 320.0845, or s. 320.0848 or a signed affidavit that the owner of the disabled parking permit or license plate was present at the time the violation occurred, and that such a parking permit or license plate was valid at the time the violation occurred. The law enforcement officer, upon determining that all required documentation has been submitted verifying that the required parking permit or license plate was valid at the time of the violation, must sign an affidavit of compliance. Upon provision of the affidavit of compliance and payment of a dismissal fee of up to $7.50 to the clerk of the circuit court, the clerk shall dismiss the citation.

(7)  One hundred dollars for a violation of s. 316.1001 However, a person may elect to pay $30 to the clerk of the court, in which case adjudication is withheld, and no points are assessed under s. 322.27 Upon receipt of the fine, the clerk of the court must retain $5 for administrative purposes and must forward the $25 to the governmental entity that issued the citation. Any funds received by a governmental entity for this violation may be used for any lawful purpose related to the operation or maintenance of a toll facility.

(8)(a)  Any person who fails to comply with the court's requirements or who fails to pay the civil penalties specified in this section within the 30-day period provided for in s. 318.14 must pay an additional civil penalty of $12, $2.50 of which must be remitted to the Department of Revenue for deposit in the General Revenue Fund, and $9.50 of which must be remitted to the Department of Revenue for deposit in the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund. The department shall contract with the Florida Association of Court Clerks, Inc., to design, establish, operate, upgrade, and maintain an automated statewide Uniform Traffic Citation Accounting System to be operated by the clerks of the court which shall include, but not be limited to, the accounting for traffic infractions by type, a record of the disposition of the citations, and an accounting system for the fines assessed and the subsequent fine amounts paid to the clerks of the court. On or before December 1, 2001, the clerks of the court must provide the information required by this chapter to be transmitted to the department by electronic transmission pursuant to the contract.

(b)  Any person who fails to comply with the court's requirements as to civil penalties specified in this section due to demonstrable financial hardship shall be authorized to satisfy such civil penalties by public works or community service. Each hour of such service shall be applied, at the rate of the minimum wage, toward payment of the person's civil penalties; provided, however, that if the person has a trade or profession for which there is a community service need and application, the rate for each hour of such service shall be the average standard wage for such trade or profession. Any person who fails to comply with the court's requirements as to such civil penalties who does not demonstrate financial hardship may also, at the discretion of the court, be authorized to satisfy such civil penalties by public works or community service in the same manner.

(c)  If the noncriminal infraction has caused or resulted in the death of another, the person who committed the infraction may perform 120 community service hours under s. 316.027(4), in addition to any other penalties.

(9)  One hundred dollars for a violation of s. 316.1575

(10)  Twenty-five dollars for a violation of s. 316.2074

(11)(a)  In addition to the stated fine, court costs must be paid in the following amounts and shall be deposited by the clerk into the fine and forfeiture fund established pursuant to s. 142.01:


For pedestrian infractions ............ $ 3.

For nonmoving traffic infractions ............ $ 16.

For moving traffic infractions ............ $ 30.

(b)  In addition to the court cost required under paragraph (a), up to $3 for each infraction shall be collected and distributed by the clerk in those counties that have been authorized to establish a criminal justice selection center or a criminal justice access and assessment center pursuant to the following special acts of the Legislature:

1.  Chapter 87-423, Laws of Florida, for Brevard County.

2.  Chapter 89-521, Laws of Florida, for Bay County.

3.  Chapter 94-444, Laws of Florida, for Alachua County.

4.  Chapter 97-333, Laws of Florida, for Pinellas County.

Funds collected by the clerk pursuant to this paragraph shall be distributed to the centers authorized by those special acts.

(c)  In addition to the court cost required under paragraph (a), a $2.50 court cost must be paid for each infraction to be distributed by the clerk to the county to help pay for criminal justice education and training programs pursuant to s. 938.15 Funds from the distribution to the county not directed by the county to fund these centers or programs shall be retained by the clerk and used for funding the court-related services of the clerk.

(d)  In addition to the court cost required under paragraph (a), a $3 court cost must be paid for each infraction to be distributed as provided in s. 938.01 and a $2 court cost as provided in s. 938.15 when assessed by a municipality or county.

(12)  One hundred dollars for a violation of s. 316.520(1) or (2). If, at a hearing, the alleged offender is found to have committed this offense, the court shall impose a minimum civil penalty of $100. For a second or subsequent adjudication within a period of 5 years, the department shall suspend the driver's license of the person for not less than 180 days and not more than 1 year.

(13)  In addition to any penalties imposed for noncriminal traffic infractions pursuant to this chapter or imposed for criminal violations listed in s. 318.17, a board of county commissioners or any unit of local government which is consolidated as provided by s. 9, Art. VIII of the State Constitution of 1885, as preserved by s. 6(e), Art. VIII of the Constitution of 1968:

(a)  May impose by ordinance a surcharge of up to $15 for any infraction or violation to fund state court facilities. The court shall not waive this surcharge.

(b)  That imposed increased fees or service charges by ordinance under s. 28.2401, s. 28.241, or s. 34.041 for the purpose of securing payment of the principal and interest on bonds issued by the county before July 1, 2003, to finance state court facilities, may impose by ordinance a surcharge for any infraction or violation for the exclusive purpose of securing payment of the principal and interest on bonds issued by the county before July 1, 2003, to fund state court facilities until the date of stated maturity. The court shall not waive this surcharge. Such surcharge may not exceed an amount per violation calculated as the quotient of the maximum annual payment of the principal and interest on the bonds as of July 1, 2003, divided by the number of traffic citations for county fiscal year 2002-2003 certified as paid by the clerk of the court of the county. Such quotient shall be rounded up to the next highest dollar amount. The bonds may be refunded only if savings will be realized on payments of debt service and the refunding bonds are scheduled to mature on the same date or before the bonds being refunded.

A county may not impose both of the surcharges authorized under paragraphs (a) and (b) concurrently.

History.--s. 1, ch. 74-377; s. 38, ch. 76-31; s. 3, ch. 79-27; s. 1, ch. 80-179; s. 195, ch. 81-259; s. 2, ch. 82-58; s. 2, ch. 84-73; s. 15, ch. 84-359; s. 25, ch. 85-167; s. 3, ch. 85-250; s. 2, ch. 85-255; s. 6, ch. 85-309; s. 4, ch. 85-337; s. 3, ch. 86-49; s. 7, ch. 86-154; s. 4, ch. 86-185; s. 3, ch. 86-260; s. 2, ch. 87-108; s. 2, ch. 87-167; ss. 2, 5, ch. 88-50; s. 2, ch. 88-305; ss. 61, 72, ch. 88-381; s. 6, ch. 89-212; s. 2, ch. 90-141; s. 8, ch. 90-290; ss. 10, 26, ch. 90-330; s. 3, ch. 91-136; s. 3, ch. 91-200; s. 1, ch. 92-192; s. 21, ch. 93-164; s. 14, ch. 94-306; s. 2, ch. 96-185; s. 8, ch. 96-200; s. 47, ch. 96-350; s. 2, ch. 97-10; s. 9, ch. 97-76; s. 13, ch. 97-225; ss. 3, 4, ch. 97-300; s. 4, ch. 98-202; s. 6, ch. 98-223; s. 8, ch. 98-251; s. 3, ch. 98-319; ss. 9, 252, ch. 99-248; s. 42, ch. 2000-152; s. 10, ch. 2001-122; s. 4, ch. 2001-196; s. 107, ch. 2002-20; s. 4, ch. 2002-217; s. 6, ch. 2002-235; s. 99, ch. 2003-402; s. 60, ch. 2004-265.