A traffic citation has been issued for you to appear before the Lauderdale County District Court. If you fail to pay or otherwise dispose of your case prior to the court date and fail to appear on your court date, a warrant may be issued for your arrest, your driver’s license may be suspended by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the fine may be increased, and any bond posted may be forfeited. The Court date on your copy of the ticket is NOT A TRIAL DATE; if you desire to plead NOT GUILTY and want a TRIAL, you must request a TRIAL on the Online Traffic Resolution (OTR) System at https://RESOLVE.alacourt.gov.
Tickets listed in the chart on the next page may be paid by entering a guilty plea without a required court appearance, provided you have not been convicted of two or more traffic offenses in the preceding 12 months. If you wish to avoid a court appearance and enter a plea of guilty, sign the Defendant’s plea of guilty on the back of your copy of the ticket and attach your money order or cashier’s check for the amount of fine and costs indicated and mail it to:
District Court Clerk
P.O. Box 776
Florence, AL 35631
You may also pay online at: Alapay.com
NO PERSONAL CHECKS. Personal checks will be returned causing a delay.
For questions or payment please contact the Alabama Traffic Service Center at traffic.alacourt.gov or by calling toll free (866) 954-9399. Cases may be paid on or before your court date with a credit or debit card by calling (877) 252-7294 or by accessing the following website: Alapay.com.
Processing of No-Insurance Tickets
THE DEFENDANT IS NOT REQUIRED TO APPEAR IN COURT IF THE DEFENDANT HAS PROOF OF INSURANCE BY THE COURT DATE ON THE VEHICLE DRIVEN AT THE TIME OF THE TICKET. MONTH TO MONTH POLICIES ARE NOT ACCEPTED.
For an out-of court settlement, defendant may provide proof, in person or by mail, before the court date and the case will be dismissed. Proof provided 30 days after the court date will result in the ticket being dismissed upon payment of court cost. Proof cannot be provided after 6 months of the court date; the ticket must be paid in full.
The same processing of no insurance tickets applies to no driver's license, expired driver's license, driver's license not in possession, improper tint, expired tag, equipment repairs and no medical card.
HELPFUL INFORMATION:
To avoid further court appearances, Defendant should bring to court all relevant documents at the first court appearance. For example, if the Defendant did not have insurance at the time the ticket was written, but has obtained insurance, proof of the new insurance may result in a lower fine. Also, if the Defendant had insurance coverage on another vehicle and the vehicle driven at the time of citation was newly purchased, the Defendant may bring proof of insurance on the other vehicle, proof of purchase of the newly purchased vehicle described in the ticket and a statement from the insurance provider that the newly purchased vehicle was covered at the time of citation, although the Defendant had not received the insurance card.
Fines and Court Costs of Lauderdale County (Subject to Change)
Tickets which may be paid without a court appearance.
State and County Court Costs: $166
| Driving on the wrong side of the road |
$61.00 + Costs |
| Failure to dim headlights |
$41.00 + Costs |
| Failure to stop at railroad crossing |
$41.00 + Costs |
| Failure to use child restraint |
$41.00 + Costs |
| Failure to wear safety belt |
$46.00** |
| Failure to yield right-of-way |
$51.00 + Costs |
| Following too closely |
$51.00 + Costs |
| Improper brakes/backing |
$51.00 + Costs |
| Improper lights |
$51.00 + Costs |
| Improper muffler |
$41.00 + Costs |
| Improper or no rearview mirror |
$51.00 + Costs |
| Improper passing |
$51.00 + Costs |
| Improper signal |
$41.00 + Costs |
| Improper tag/No tag |
$56.00 + Costs |
| Improper tires |
$51.00 + Costs |
| Improper turn |
$51.00 + Costs |
| Improper window tinting |
$51.00 + Costs |
| No helmet (motorcycle) |
$41.00 + Costs |
| Operating a motor vehicle without a driver's license |
$106.00* + Costs |
| Running red light or Stop sign |
$51.00 + Costs |
| Speeding (less than 25 mph over limit) |
$51.00 + Costs |
| Speeding (25 mph or more over limit) |
$71.00 + Costs |
| Stopping/blocking the highway |
$61.00 + Costs |
| Violating driver's license restriction or endorsement |
$91.00* + Costs |
* Pursuant to Act 98-671, effective 5-6-98, an additional $50 (reflected in totals above) shall be collected for these.
** Pursuant to Act 99-397, effective 6-9-99, no court costs shall apply to this offense.
NOTE: FINE AND COURT COSTS MAY BE GREATER IF NOT PAID BEFORE THE COURT DATE.
Defensive Driving School Options
To Request Driving School:
Driving school may be permitted at the judge’s discretion. Prior to registering for driving school, please go to: (https://resolve.alacourt.gov) to submit your request for driving school. Once driving school has been approved by the court, you will receive an order from the Judge setting your case to a future court date that driving school must be completed by. This includes returning to the Online Traffic Resolution website (https://resolve.alacourt.gov) to upload your Certificate of Completion of Driving School. You will then be able to pay court costs ($166) to complete the requirements of driving school. If you do not complete these requirements, you must appear in court on the date showing on the approval order from the Judge.
Once Approved; How to Register for Driving School:
Please go to the Lauderdale County Community Corrections office at 200 S. Court Street, Basement, Suite A on Wednesday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (CST). They are closed from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.(CST) for lunch. They do not take phone calls for driving school registrations, you will have to go in person.