A Lee County traffic ticket gives you 30 days to choose one of three options with the Clerk of Court: pay it, contest it, or elect a Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) course. The clerk in the county where you were cited handles the choice, whether the stop happened in Fort Myers, Cape Coral or elsewhere in the county.
This guide walks you through the steps in order. You will see who can elect school, what the clerk expects, and when you must show proof of completion.
BDI School
Key Takeaways
- You have 30 days from the citation date to choose pay, contest or school, and the clerk where you were cited handles it.
- Paying the fine counts as a conviction, so points can be added to your record if the violation carries them.
- You can elect Basic Driver Improvement only if you are eligible: no CDL, no election in the past 12 months, and no more than eight in a lifetime.
- Electing school means paying the reduced fine and fees to the clerk first, then finishing the course within the time the clerk sets.
- FLHSMV says clerks give between 60 and 90 days from the citation date to finish, so confirm your exact date with the Lee County clerk.
- Out-of-state and foreign license holders can use the Florida course for a Florida ticket.
Table of Contents
- What do you need before you start?
- Step 1: Which clerk handles your Lee County traffic ticket?
- Step 2: What are your three options and the 30-day deadline?
- Step 3: Should you pay the Lee County traffic ticket?
- Step 4: Can you elect Basic Driver Improvement?
- Step 5: How do you elect school with the Lee County clerk?
- Step 6: What is the deadline to show proof of completion?
- Step 7: How do you complete the course and report it?
- How long does the whole process take?
- What mistakes should you avoid with a Lee County traffic ticket?
- Does the nolo contendere option apply to your ticket?
- Our Perspective
- FAQ
- Sources
What do you need before you start?
You need your citation, your driver license, and a way to contact the Lee County Clerk of Court. The citation lists the clerk, the violation and the options. Keep it close, because every deadline counts from the citation date.
Gather these items before you make any choice:
- The paper or electronic citation, with the citation number and date.
- Your Florida driver license number (or your out-of-state or foreign license details).
- A payment method for the civil penalty and clerk fees.
- A calendar to mark the 30-day deadline and the course deadline.
If you are not sure what happens after a stop, read what happens when you get a traffic ticket first.
Step 1: Which clerk handles your Lee County traffic ticket?
The Clerk of Court in the county where the violation happened handles your ticket. For a stop in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs or anywhere else in Lee County, that is the Lee County clerk, not the city. Your home county does not matter.
FLHSMV, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (often called the Florida DMV), lists the Lee County clerk’s Fort Myers office at 2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. You can also use the Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers directory to find contact details.
If you live in another county, the rule stays the same. FLHSMV advises contacting the traffic division in the county where the citation was issued.
Step 2: What are your three options and the 30-day deadline?
You can pay the citation, contest it, or elect a driver improvement course. FLHSMV says you have 30 days to make that election with the clerk listed on the citation. Missing it can bring added fines and a license suspension.
Under s. 318.14, Florida Statutes, most noncriminal infractions follow this process. The table compares the choices as of November 2026.
| Option | What you do | Points | Key limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay | Pay the civil penalty to the clerk within 30 days | FLHSMV says payment is a conviction, so points are assessed if the violation carries them | You give up the chance to elect school |
| Elect BDI school | Tell the clerk, pay the reduced fine and fees, then finish the course | If you are eligible and finish on time, adjudication is withheld and points are not assessed | Eligibility limits and a completion deadline apply |
| Contest | Ask the clerk for a hearing | A judge, magistrate or hearing officer decides | If found guilty, a penalty or course can be imposed |
The clerk also lists a fourth path for certain paperwork violations, such as an expired license, called a nolo contendere plea with proof of compliance. We cover that below.
Step 3: Should you pay the Lee County traffic ticket?
Paying is the simplest option, but it has a cost. FLHSMV states that payment of the civil penalty is considered a conviction, and points are assessed to your record if applicable. Pay only if you accept that result.
You can pay at the clerk’s office or online. FLHSMV points drivers to payflclerk.com for all 67 counties. Because the fine amount is printed on the citation and county fees vary, check the total with the Lee County clerk.
Points matter because they add up. FLHSMV says 12 points in 12 months brings a 30-day suspension. Ask your insurer separately how a conviction could affect your rates, because that is the insurer’s decision.
Step 4: Can you elect Basic Driver Improvement?
You can elect Basic Driver Improvement if your violation is a noncriminal infraction and you meet the limits. FLHSMV says you cannot elect if you hold a CDL, elected in the past 12 months, made eight elections in your life, or were cited for going 30 mph over the limit.
Those limits come from the FLHSMV BDI page. FLHSMV also notes that CDL holders are not eligible even if they were driving a personal car.
Who is not eligible?
- Drivers with a commercial driver license (CDL), regardless of the vehicle.
- Drivers who already elected school in the past 12 months.
- Drivers with eight lifetime elections.
- Anyone cited for a criminal violation.
If you hold a CDL, read can a CDL holder take traffic school in Florida for the details. Also remember that the clerk or judge makes the final call on your citation.
Are some tickets school-only after a conviction?
Yes. FLHSMV lists passing a school bus, racing, reckless driving and running a red light as violations that require a driver improvement course in addition to the fine if you are convicted. That is a court requirement, not the same as an elected course. See our court-ordered traffic school guide for how those differ.
Step 5: How do you elect school with the Lee County clerk?
You elect school by telling the clerk before you take the course and paying the citation. FLHSMV’s steps are to contact the clerk within 30 days, pay the fine reduced by 18 percent plus court costs, then submit your certificate of completion.
The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers describe the paperwork: you sign the Driver Improvement Course Affidavit and file it with the clerk along with payment. The officer’s envelope may also carry an affidavit, and FLHSMV says you can use that envelope to indicate your choice.
Follow these steps in order:
- Confirm you meet the eligibility limits above.
- Contact the Lee County clerk within 30 days of the citation date.
- Sign the affidavit and pay the reduced fine and clerk fees.
- Ask the clerk for your exact course deadline in writing.
- Choose an FLHSMV-approved course provider and finish the course.
- Confirm the clerk received your completion.
You also pay the course provider separately. FLHSMV confirms you are responsible for the cost of the course itself.
Step 6: What is the deadline to show proof of completion?
The clerk sets your deadline, and FLHSMV says it falls between 60 and 90 days from the citation date. Confirm your exact date with the Lee County clerk, because county rules differ. Missing it can mean a suspension and points.
The Florida clerks’ association describes an extra 30 to 60 days after your affidavit and payment. These figures are as of November 2026 and can change, so rely on the clerk’s written date.
What happens if you miss it? Under chapter 318, Florida Statutes, a driver who elects school but does not attend in time is deemed to have admitted the infraction and is adjudicated guilty. The clerk notifies FLHSMV and points are assessed.
FLHSMV also notes that once the affidavit is recorded, you cannot choose school again for 12 months and payments are forfeited. To verify your record, use our Florida traffic school completion check.
Step 7: How do you complete the course and report it?
You finish an FLHSMV-approved course, then make sure the clerk has proof. FLHSMV says providers report completions electronically and asks you to allow 24 to 72 hours for posting. FLHSMV does not accept paper certificates for licensing.
BDI School is an online provider of the 4-hour Basic Driver Improvement course for drivers who received a moving violation. The course is self-paced and available in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Learn more in our complete BDI course guide.
If you speak Spanish, see our online traffic school in Spanish guide. Out-of-state and foreign license holders should know the Florida course applies to Florida tickets, and the election goes through the Florida clerk where you were cited.
How long does the whole process take?
Plan on roughly two to three months from citation to final proof. You have 30 days to elect and pay, then the clerk gives you a set window to finish the course. The 4-hour course itself takes one sitting or several short ones.
A realistic timeline looks like this:
- Days 1 to 30: choose your option and pay the clerk.
- Days 30 to 90: finish the course inside the date the clerk gives you.
- After the course: allow 24 to 72 hours for posting, then confirm with the clerk.
What mistakes should you avoid with a Lee County traffic ticket?
The most common mistakes are waiting too long, paying without electing school, and taking a course before telling the clerk. Each one can cost you the school option or lead to points. A short checklist helps you avoid them.
- Do not let the 30 days pass. After that, FLHSMV says you can no longer elect school.
- Do not pay and assume school is automatic. Tell the clerk you are electing school when you pay.
- Do not start the course before you elect. FLHSMV says you must inform the clerk prior to attending.
- Do not guess the deadline. Get the date from the Lee County clerk.
- Do not ignore the ticket if you plan to contest it. Request your hearing within the 30 days.
For serious or contested cases, talk to a traffic attorney. Our guide to what to expect in traffic court explains the hearing basics. If you want to see how another county works, compare it with the Orange County options.
Does the nolo contendere option apply to your ticket?
Only for certain paperwork violations. The Florida clerks’ association says this option covers cited violations such as an expired registration or license issue, and you must provide proof of compliance. Most speeding and red light tickets do not qualify.
Under s. 318.14(10), drivers without a commercial license may enter the plea and show proof to the clerk. We do not tell you which plea to enter. Ask the clerk whether it applies, and consult an attorney if you are unsure.
Our Perspective
We see drivers lose the school option for one simple reason: they wait. The 30-day window feels long, but a ticket in the glove box is easy to forget. Call or visit the Lee County clerk early, even if you have not decided yet.
Our advice is to compare the real costs before you choose. Paying is fast, but it can add points. School costs the reduced fine, clerk fees and a course fee, plus a few hours of your time. Contesting may suit you if you believe the citation is wrong, and a traffic attorney can explain that path.
Whatever you pick, write down the dates. Keep your receipts, your affidavit copy and your completion record. If the clerk’s office or FLHSMV ever questions your file, those papers answer it quickly.
— The BDI School team
Once you’ve confirmed with your county clerk that you elected (or were ordered to take) Basic Driver Improvement, you can complete the 4-hour Florida BDI course online at your own pace, in English, Spanish or Portuguese, at https://bdischool.com/register.
FAQ
How long do I have to respond to a Lee County traffic ticket?
You have 30 days from the citation date to pay, contest or elect a driver improvement course, according to FLHSMV. Missing the window can bring added fines and a license suspension. Check the citation and call the Lee County clerk if you are close to the deadline.
Can I take traffic school if my ticket was in Cape Coral or Fort Myers?
Possibly. Cape Coral and Fort Myers tickets go through the Lee County clerk, and eligibility depends on the violation and your record. You cannot elect school with a CDL, a recent election, or a citation for 30 mph over the limit.
Does the clerk tell me when my course is due?
Ask for the date in writing. FLHSMV says clerks allow between 60 and 90 days from the citation date, but each county sets its own requirements. The Lee County clerk can confirm yours.
What if I live out of state and got a ticket in Lee County?
The ticket is still a Florida citation, so you deal with the Lee County clerk. FLHSMV notes the election applies to Florida violations and goes through the Florida court. The Florida course applies to Florida tickets, and the clerk decides your eligibility.
Sources
- Traffic Citations – FLHSMV
- Driver Improvement Schools – FLHSMV
- What is Basic Driver Improvement (BDI)? – FLHSMV
- Driver Improvement Courses FAQ – FLHSMV
- Questions About Driving Records – FLHSMV
- Lee County – FLHSMV
- Florida Statutes section 318.14
- How Do I Pay A Traffic Ticket? – Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers
- Find A Clerk – Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers
