Contents and introductory material

FLORIDA RULES OF TRAFFIC COURT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FLORIDA RULES OF TRAFFIC COURT ..................................... 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................. 1

CITATIONS TO OPINIONS ADOPTING OR AMENDING RULES .... 4

I. SCOPE, PURPOSE, AND CONSTRUCTION .............................. 6

RULE 6.010. SCOPE ..................................................................... 6

RULE 6.020. PURPOSE AND CONSTRUCTION ............................. 6

II. GENERAL PROVISIONS ....................................................... 7

RULE 6.040. DEFINITIONS........................................................... 7

RULE 6.090. DIRECT AND INDIRECT CRIMINAL CONTEMPT .... 10

RULE 6.100. TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS BUREAU ............................ 10

RULE 6.110. DRIVER IMPROVEMENT, STUDENT TRAFFIC

SAFETY COUNCIL, AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE EDUCATION COURSES ....................................... 11

RULE 6.130. CASE CONSOLIDATION ......................................... 12

RULE 6.150. WITNESSES ........................................................... 13

III. CRIMINAL OFFENSES ...................................................... 13

RULE 6.160. PRACTICE AS IN CRIMINAL RULES ....................... 13

RULE 6.165. COMPLAINT; SUMMONS; FORM; USE ................... 14

RULE 6.200. PLEAS AND AFFIDAVITS OF DEFENSE ................. 14

RULE 6.290. WITHHOLDING ADJUDICATION PROHIBITED ...... 15

RULE 6.291. PROCEDURES ON WITHHELD ADJUDICATION IN

DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED; COSTS AND ENLARGEMENT OF TIME TO COMPLY; RECORD OF CONVICTIONS ................................ 15

RULE 6.310. LESSER INCLUDED OFFENSES ............................ 16

IV. TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS ................................................... 17

RULE 6.320. COMPLAINT; SUMMONS; FORMS; USE ................. 17

RULE 6.325. SPEEDY TRIAL: INFRACTIONS ONLY .................... 17

RULE 6.330. ELECTION TO ATTEND A DRIVER IMPROVEMENT

COURSE .............................................................. 18

RULE 6.340. AFFIDAVIT OF DEFENSE OR ADMISSION AND

WAIVER OF APPEARANCE ................................... 18

RULE 6.350. COMPUTATION OF TIME ....................................... 24

RULE 6.360. ENLARGEMENT OF TIME ...................................... 24

RULE 6.380. NONVERIFICATION OF PLEADINGS ...................... 25

RULE 6.400. CLERK TO PREPARE AND SEND REPORTS ........... 25

RULE 6.445. DISCOVERY: INFRACTIONS ONLY ......................... 25

RULE 6.450. ORDER OF HEARING ............................................ 26

RULE 6.455. AMENDMENTS AND VOLUNTARY DISMISSALS BY

ISSUING OFFICERS ............................................. 27

RULE 6.460. EVIDENCE ............................................................ 28

RULE 6.470. COSTS ................................................................... 28

RULE 6.480. PAYMENT OF PENALTY IMPOSED ......................... 29

RULE 6.490. CORRECTION AND REDUCTION OF PENALTY ...... 29

RULE 6.500. ENTRY OF DISPOSITION ....................................... 30

RULE 6.510. DETERMINATION THAT INFRACTION WAS NOT

COMMITTED; BOND REFUNDED ........................ 30

RULE 6.520. EFFECT OF GRANTING NEW HEARING ................ 30

RULE 6.530. IMPOSITION OF PENALTY BEFORE OR AFTER

MOTION FILED .................................................... 31

RULE 6.540. TIME FOR AND METHOD OF MAKING MOTIONS;

PROCEDURE ....................................................... 31

RULE 6.550. OFFICIAL MAY GRANT NEW HEARING .................. 31

RULE 6.560. CONVICTION OF TRAFFIC INFRACTION ................ 31

RULE 6.570. REPORTING ACTION REQUIRING SUSPENSION OF

DRIVER LICENSE ................................................ 32

RULE 6.575. RETENTION OF CASE FILES ................................. 32

RULE 6.590. FAILURE TO COMPLETE DRIVER IMPROVEMENT

COURSE; REINSTATEMENT OF DRIVER LICENSE ............................................................................ 32

RULE 6.600. FAILURE TO APPEAR OR PAY CIVIL PENALTY;

REINSTATEMENT OF DRIVER LICENSE .............. 33

RULE 6.610. FAILURE TO SATISFY PENALTY IMPOSED AFTER A

HEARING; REINSTATEMENT OF DRIVER LICENSE ............................................................................ 34

RULE 6.620. FAILURE TO APPEAR FOR MANDATORY HEARING;

REINSTATEMENT OF DRIVER LICENSE .............. 35

RULE 6.630. CIVIL TRAFFIC INFRACTION HEARING OFFICER

PROGRAM; TRAFFIC HEARING OFFICERS .......... 35

CITATIONS TO OPINIONS ADOPTING OR AMENDING RULES

Transition Rule 20 was proposed in 1974 and adopted as an emergency rule to handle all traffic cases—effective 1-1-75: 306 So. 2d 489.

OTHER OPINIONS:

Effective Date Citation Description Effective 2-5-75: 307 So.2d 825. Amended 6.156(c). Effective 5-1-75: 311 So.2d 665. Amended numerous rules. Effective 3-31-76: 330 So.2d 129. Amended 6.110, 6.156. Effective 6-30-76: 335 So.2d 2. Amended 6.340. Effective 1-27-77: 342 So.2d 80. Amended 6.330. Effective 6-2-77: 347 So.2d 413. Amended 6.110. Effective 5-11-78: 358 So.2d 1360. Amended 6.290; added 6.575. Effective 12-14-78: 366 So.2d 400. Amended numerous rules. Effective 7-18-79: 372 So.2d 1377. Amended 6.200, 6.470. Effective 11-1-79: 376 So.2d 1157. Amended 6.110(a). Effective 7-1-81: 401 So.2d 805. Added 6.115. Effective 2-11-82: 410 So.2d 1337. Deleted Transition Rule 20; amended numerous rules. Effective 9-14-82: 426 So.2d 9. Amended 6.115. Effective 1-1-85: 458 So.2d 1112. Amended numerous rules. Effective 1-1-85: 458 So.2d 1115. Amended 6.470(c). Effective 10-1-85: 477 So.2d 542. Amended numerous rules. Effective 10-1-86: 494 So.2d 1129. Amended numerous rules. Effective 9-8-88: 531 So.2d 150. Amended 6.115. Effective 1-1-89: 530 So.2d 274. Four-year-cycle revisions. Numerous rules amended. (See 536 So.2d 181.) Effective 1-1-89: 536 So.2d 181. Revised opinion at 530 So.2d 274. Effective 3-29-90: 559 So.2d 1101. Amended 6.010, 6.040, 6.080, 6.100, 6.130; added 6.630. Effective 10-11-90: 567 So.2d 1380. Amended 6.110, 6.115, 6.185, 6.291, 6.630. Effective 11-12-92: 608 So.2d 469. Amended 6.156. Effective 1-1-93; 1-1-94: 608 So.2d 451 Four-year-cycle revisions. Numerous rules amended, deleted. Rule 6.325 to become effective 1- 1-94. Effective 7-1-93: 621 So.2d 1063. Amended 6.040, 6.110, 6.140; repealed 6.156. Effective 1-11-96: 667 So.2d 188. Amended 6.325, 6.630(d). Effective 1-1-97: 685 So.2d 1242. Four-year-cycle revisions. Numerous rules amended. Rule 6.445 added. Effective 1-1-03: 822 So.2d 1239. Two-year-cycle revisions. Amended 6.630. Effective 1-1-05: 890 So.2d 1111. Two-year-cycle revisions. Amended 6.100, 6.190, 6.200, 6.500, 6.580. Effective 1-1-07: 938 So.2d 983. Amended 6.040, 6.455, and 6.630. Effective 1-1-10: 24 So.3d 176. Three-year-cycle revisions. Amended 6.291, 6.330, 6.445, 6.480; and repealed 6.115 (effective 12-3- 09). Effective 9-1-12: 102 So.3d 505. Amended 6.370. Effective 10-1-12: 95 So.3d 96. Amended 6.350. Deleted 6.370. Effective 1-1-13: 105 So.3d 1267. Amended 6.600(b). Effective 1-1-14: 131 So.3d 714. Amended 6.630. Effective 1-1-16: 166 So.3d 179. Amended 6.190, 6.380, 6.460, and 6.630.

Effective Date Citation Description Effective 1-1-19: 252 So.3d 704. Amended 6.010, 6.020, 6.080, 6.090, 6.140, 6.180, 6.190, 6.200, 6.320, 6.330, 6.360, 6.455, 6.490, 6.500, 6.510, 6.520, 6.530, 6.550, 6.560, 6.570, 6.575, 6.590, and 6.600. Deleted 6.580. Effective 11-14-19: 283 So.3d 794. Amended 6.040. Effective 10-28-21: 344 So.3d 940. Amended 6.350 and 6.575. Effective 10-1-22: 346 So.3d 1105. Deleted 6.140 and amended 6.340. Effective 7-1-23: 361 So.3d 778. Amended 6.040, 6.130, 6.455, and 6.490. Effective 1-1-24: 370 So.3d 933. Deleted 6.080, 6.180, 6.183, 6.190, and 6.300 and amended 6.090. Effective 1-1-24: 373 So.3d 281. Amended 6.445. Effective 7-1-25: 409 So.3d 633. Amended 6.445. Effective 9-11-25: 417 So.3d 294. Amended 6.450. Effective 1-1-26: 422 So.3d 139. Amended 6.340 and 6.480.

NOTE TO USERS: Rules in this pamphlet are current through 422 So.3d 139. Subsequent amendments, if any, can be found at www.floridasupremecourt.org/decisions/rules.shtml.