Florida Bar Character and Fitness Information Resources

Traffic Violations, Questions 22a and 22b

Question 22(a) covers citations that resulted in a high fine or a license suspension or revocation. The time period involved covers your entire driving career.

Question 22(b) asks for all other traffic infractions received during the last three years, regardless of outcome.

A D.U.I. is covered by Question 21.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is the first stop in looking for Florida traffic offenses information.

You should also obtain a complete driving record check, which gives your current license status and open suspensions. This online service is available at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

This question does not include information on contested traffic cases, alcohol related cases or felonies (see Criminal Records). 

Most states allow you to obtain your driver's record online. The reports range from 3 years (typical) to a full driving history (some states). The most common range is 3 years to 10 years. There is usually a fee associated with obtaining the record. Florida will charge $10 for a complete driving history. Create a free account at My DMV Portal to obtain your Florida driving record.

The following are helpful steps to ensure you find your traffic violations and driving history:

1. Request a record or check your records for every state in which you have obtained or held a driver’s license. A simple Google search using search terms your state name and driving record (i.e. Georgia driving record) should return the state's website for obtaining driving records in that state.
2. If you cannot remember if you have had a violation in another state, request a driving history from every state you have driven in.
3. Another way you may be able to find driving records is to go to the county clerk of courts for the counties you have driven in and check the records. This method is free, but keep in mind that not all counties provide online access to court records, you may need to call the clerk of courts.
4. Remember that some serious traffic violations also carry a criminal record, so make sure you check your criminal records as well.
5. Some traffic offenses are classified as criminal violations. In Florida, non-dismissed criminal traffic violations cited via a Uniform Traffic Citation will appear on your driving record, even if an "Arrest Affidavit" was not filed with the court. If you were booked, the jail fingerprints will also generate an FDLE record entry. For other states you should make sure you check your criminal records as well.
6. Remember to update Question 22(b) within 30 days if you receive any qualifying traffic citation between the application date and the 3L conversion.

To search for criminal records in any state, you need to know the jurisdiction in which the crime was committed. Individual clerks of court will have criminal record searches.

The links provided below will take you directly to the criminal and traffic records searches in the clerks of court websites for Duval county. Keep in mind that different courts classify cases differently. To respond accurately to the questions related to felonies or misdemeanors, you will have to parse out offenses by type.

For a fee, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) will provide a detailed criminal record history for Florida offenses. 

Remember that any sealed or expunged criminal records will have to be unsealed or unexpunged as part of your bar application process.

For a criminal records search use the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) website.

To search criminal, traffic and other legal proceeding records, use Duval County Public Records search. You can request records or search the online portal yourself.

If your criminal records are sealed, you will need to unseal them for access. Use a sample Order to Unseal and Reseal Records from the Florida Board of Bar Examiners.