Florida Statute 318.14 provides qualified individuals the option to elect to attend a Basic Driver Improvement Course approved by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) to prevent points from being assessed to your driving record. To choose this option, you must first complete the Traffic Election Form and make payment within 30 days from the date the citation was issued. The election to attend a Basic Driver Improvement Course along with the payment may be made by mail or in person to the Clerk's Office. To determine the total costs for the traffic school election see the Basic Driver's Course Election Fine Schedule (PDF).

You must make the election prior to attending the course and making payment. A course completed before the election is made will not be accepted and your license will still be suspended unless a new course is completed, and proof is submitted to the Clerk's Office within 60 days after the date of the election.

Course Completion

Upon completion of the approved Basic Driver Improvement Course, you must bring, mail, or email the certificate of completion to the Clerk's Office. Failure to complete the Basic Driver Improvement Course and turn the certificate of completion into the Clerk's Office within 60 days from the date of election will result in a report of non-compliance being submitted to the DHSMV and your driver's license being suspended. If this occurs, additional court costs and late charges will be applied to your citation and will need to be paid before the suspension can be cleared.

Note: If you hold an out-of-state license, it is your responsibility to verify, prior to your election, that the state issuing your driver's license will accept a Florida school election and withhold points for completing the school.

Traffic School Election Qualifications

To qualify for the traffic school election:

• Your must not possess a Class A, B, or C commercial drivers license (CDL)
• You may not have elected to attend an approved Basic Driver Improvement Course within the last 12 months
• You may not have elected to attend an approved Basic Driver Improvement Course 5 times in your lifetime

A list of approved Basic Driver Improvement Course schools can be found on the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website under "Basic Driver Improvement Courses" or in the Yellow Pages under "driving instruction" or "traffic schools".

If you choose to enter a 'Not Guilty' plea and contest the traffic citation in court, you must notify the Clerk in writing within 30 days of the date the citation was issued to request a traffic infraction hearing. The Traffic Election Form is provided for you to select this option. The completed form needs to be brought to the Clerk's Office in person, by mail, or by email within 30 days of the compliance date. When you choose this option, you plead not guilty and you waive your right to pay the fine or elect to attend a Basic Driver Improvement Course.

After receipt of the completed form, the Clerk will send a notice advising you of the date and time of your hearing. If you reside outside of Escambia County, you may attend in person at your own expense or be heard at the hearing by way of an Affidavit of Defense (PDF). Subpoenas will be issued for the law enforcement officer as well as any witnesses listed by the officer. You are responsible for making sure any witnesses you want to testify appear at the hearing.

Fine

At a hearing, the court may impose a fine up to $500 or require you to attend a driver improvement course, or both. In cases of speeding in a school zone, work zone or a death, a fine up to $1,000 may be imposed.