If you're a resident of Clearwater Beach, Dunedin, Largo, Oldsmar, Pinellas Park, St. Petersburg, or Tarpon Springs, have a Florida Driver's license, or you received a traffic ticket in Florida, then traffic school may be for you! By electing traffic school you may be able to avoid points on your driver's license, and maintain your clean driving record.

Any person charged with a moving or non-moving traffic violation, other than violations involving driver licenses, vehicle registration, proof of insurance, accidents or leaving a child under the age of six unattended in a vehicle, is eligible to elect to attend a defensive driving course in lieu of accumulating points on the driver history record.

Once you have made your election and paid the reduced civil penalty, you have 60 calendar days to identify, enroll, attend, complete and provide proof of completion to the Clerk's Office in person or by mail. Failure to pay the fine and attend traffic school will result in suspension of your driver’s license and the assessment of late fees.

There are many Driver School Course Providers in Florida. You can find a traffic school online, or you can enroll in a Florida DHSMV and Court approved online traffic school course with The Emilio School, Inc.

Pinellas County Traffic School Benefits

1. Your insurance rates cannot go up and your policy cannot be canceled unless you are at fault in a crash.

F.S. 626.9541(1)(o)12; 318.14(9) and(10)

2. Points may not be added to your driver's license record, adjudication of guilt is withheld, safe driver status is maintained if applicable.

F.S. 318.14(9); s .322.27; 318.18(3)

3. Available at home (Internet or Video/DVD) or in the Classroom

4. If you caused a crash that required someone, including yourself, to be transported to a medical facility, the election would satisfy the statutory requirement to attend a Traffic Collision Avoidance Course.

F.S. 322.0261