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CLERK & COMPTROLLER, FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL PARTNER FOR MORE EFFICIENT PROCESSING OF TRAFFIC TICKETS

New technology enables electronic transmission of ticket images

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. (October 3, 2011) – Clerk Sharon Bock announced today that her office will be the first Clerk’s office in Florida to accept electronic images of traffic tickets from the Florida Highway Patrol, saving costly trips to the courthouse to deliver paper tickets.

The new system, which launches in October, will allow citations to get into the Clerk’s system more quickly, since images of citations will be delivered electronically. People will be able to pay fines, sign up for traffic school, or otherwise settle their case faster without waiting on a paper ticket to arrive at the Clerk’s office.

“No one likes getting a ticket, but we’re always looking for ways to improve our services,” said Clerk Sharon Bock. “Helping citizens save time by navigating government more efficiently is our goal. That’s why this partnership with the Florida Highway Patrol is so important.”

Tickets for violations such as speeding or driving without a seatbelt will be transmitted electronically to the Clerk’s office at the end of each day, and available for review the next business day. Citations for offenses such as driving 30 mph over the speed limit, or that involve serious injuries or fatalities, and require a court appearance will still require the delivery of a paper ticket to the Clerk’s office.

Electronic transmittal of tickets also will help boost efficiency in the Clerk’s busy County Criminal division, which processed 344,000 tickets last year, 25 percent of which were from FHP.

People will still receive a paper ticket from the Highway Patrol trooper, but the Clerk’s office will not have to wait for the paper copy to open a new case.

Florida Highway Patrol is the first agency that has agreed to transmit ticket images electronically. Clerk Bock said she hopes to expand the program to include other local law enforcement agencies as well.

There are several options for paying traffic tickets, including paying at any of our courthouse locations, at our Midwestern Communities Service Center in Royal Palm Beach, by mail, online or at Check Cashing Store locations throughout South Florida. Information about entering a not guilty plea, enrolling in traffic school and answers to frequently asked questions are available on our Traffic Violations page on www.mypalmbeachclerk.com.