Seminole County is one of the few counties in Central Florida where you can attend your traffic hearing from home. The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit offers Zoom video conferencing for civil traffic infraction hearings, giving defendants and their attorneys the option to appear remotely.
But whether you attend in person or by video, the stakes are the same — points on your license, higher insurance premiums, and the risk of suspension if you accumulate too many violations.
Civil traffic infraction hearings are held at the Civil Justice Center at 301 N. Park Avenue, Sanford, FL 32771. Hearings with the Civil Traffic Hearing Officer are scheduled on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons.
Virtual hearings: Available through Zoom. You need a device with internet access, a camera, and a microphone. You may need to install the Zoom app before your hearing. Your attorney can coordinate the virtual setup with the judicial assistant.
After receiving a citation, you have three options:
Contesting does not mean you have to argue your case personally. Your attorney handles the hearing — either in person or via Zoom. You stay home.
Common reasons to contest a Seminole County traffic ticket:
On that last point: Florida Statute § 316.066(4) makes crash report statements inadmissible in court. If your citation was issued after a crash, this can be a significant defense tool.
Seminole County uses Civil Traffic Hearing Officers — not judges — to adjudicate many traffic infraction cases. They have the authority to:
The process is less formal than a bench trial, but the outcome still affects your driving record and insurance.
At the hearing:
Even when dismissal is not possible, an experienced attorney can negotiate a reduction. A speeding ticket reduced to a non-moving violation prevents points and keeps your insurance rates stable.
If you hold a commercial driver’s license, a Seminole County traffic ticket carries consequences far beyond the fine on the citation. Federal regulations under 49 CFR § 383.51 prohibit states from allowing CDL holders to use:
A single serious violation (speeding 15+ mph over the limit) starts a clock:
For CDL holders, the only way to protect your commercial license is to prevent the conviction entirely.
The video hearing option is useful for defendants who cannot easily get to Sanford — whether due to work schedules, distance, or the parking situation on Hood Avenue.
To appear via Zoom, contact the judicial assistant for the assigned judge or hearing officer ahead of time. The court provides a hearing link. All virtual hearings in the Eighteenth Circuit for Seminole traffic cases use Zoom.
James P. Kelly represents clients in Seminole County traffic court, both in person and through virtual hearings. For most traffic infractions, your attorney handles everything without you appearing at all.
Yes. For civil traffic infractions, your attorney can appear on your behalf — either in person or via Zoom.
At the Civil Justice Center at 301 N. Park Avenue in Sanford. Hearings are typically scheduled on Tuesday through Thursday afternoons.
The hearing officer will generally dismiss the citation. This is one reason contesting a ticket — rather than simply paying it — can be worth the effort.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Every case involves unique facts and circumstances that affect the outcome. Contacting The Law Office of James P. Kelly, P.A. does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
