Florida traffic law reference · Monroe County (Florida Keys)
Speeding ticket cost in Monroe County, Florida (2025–2026)
Exact fine amounts, statutory citations, court costs, points, and license consequences for a speeding ticket in Monroe County, Florida. Covers Florida's new dangerous excessive speeding law (HB 351 / §316.1922), red light camera rules, and the three options after you're cited.
Last verified: Reviewed against Florida Statutes ch. 316, 318, 322 and the Monroe Clerk fee schedule
TL;DR
A Monroe County speeding ticket costs $131 (6–9 mph over) to Court mandatory (30+ mph over), adds 3–4 license points under Fla. Stat. §322.27, and typically triggers a 3-year insurance increase of $300–$900. Unilegal defends civil speeding tickets statewide for a flat $99, with most cases resolving in 60–90 days without a courthouse visit. (2026)
- —A Monroe speeding citation costs between $131 (6–9 mph over) and Court mandatory (30+ mph over).[1]
- —Monroe (the Florida Keys) tracks the statewide baseline almost exactly and is the only South Florida county with zero active red light camera programs. Enforcement leans heavily on Overseas Highway patrols and tourist-season campaigns.[3]
- —Monroe operates no red light camera programs; every red light citation is officer-issued under §316.075.[2]
- —Florida's HB 351 (Ch. 2025-77, effective July 1, 2025) creates the criminal offense of dangerous excessive speeding under §316.1922 at 50+ mph over the limit, with mandatory court appearance and possible jail time.[7]
- —You have 30 days to pay, elect traffic school, or request a hearing. After 30 days a $16 late fee applies and FLHSMV may issue a D-6 license suspension.[5]
The statutory framework
Every speeding fine in Florida — including in Monroe — is built from the same statutory base. Section §318.18, Fla. Stat. fixes the civil penalty for each violation tier, and each county adds its own court costs and local surcharges on top.[3]
“The penalties required for a noncriminal disposition pursuant to s. 318.14 or a criminal offense listed in s. 318.17 are as follows…”
Monroe fine schedule, 2025–2026
Every total below reflects the civil penalty payable within 30 days of citation. “Statutory base” is the §318.18 fine; the difference is Monroe court costs and surcharges.[1]
| Violation | Statutory base | Monroe total |
|---|---|---|
| Standard moving violation | $60 | $166[1] |
| Non-moving violation | $30 | $116[1] |
| Seat belt violation | $30 | $116[1] |
| Child restraint violation | $60 | $166[1] |
| Speeding 6–9 mph over | $25 | $131[1] |
| Speeding 10–14 mph over | $100 | $206[1] |
| Speeding 15–19 mph over | $150 | $256[1] |
| Speeding 20–29 mph over | $175 | $281[1] |
| Speeding 30+ mph over | $250 | Court mandatory[1] |
| Red light (officer-issued) | $158 | $166[1] |
| Failure to stop for school bus | $200 | $206[1] |
| School zone 6–9 mph over | $50 | $156[1] |
| School zone 10–14 mph over | $200 | $306[1] |
| Late fee (after 30 days) | $16 | $16[3] |
HB 351 — Dangerous excessive speeding (effective July 1, 2025)
Florida's 2025 legislative session passed CS/CS/CS/HB 351 (Ch. 2025-77, Laws of Fla.), which creates the new criminal offense of dangerous excessive speeding and is the source of §316.1922. Two distinct statutes now sit alongside the standard civil tier:
- §316.1922 (new, 2025) — criminaldangerous excessive speeding when a driver exceeds the posted limit by 50 mph or more, or drives 100+ mph in a manner that threatens safety. First conviction is a second-degree misdemeanor with up to 30 days' jail; second conviction within 5 years is a first-degree misdemeanor with up to 90 days' jail and possible license revocation. Mandatory court appearance.[7]
- §316.1926 (2008, unchanged by HB 351) — civilrouting statute that sends citations for speeding 50+ mph over the limit into Ch. 318 with mandatory court appearance. This is the older “super speeder” provision; it is not the new criminal offense.[14]
Red light camera rules in Monroe
Monroe County does not operate red light camera programs in any of its incorporated cities (Key West, Marathon, Key Colony Beach, Layton, or Islamorada). All red light enforcement is officer-issued under §316.075. Every red light citation is officer-issued under §316.075 and is reported to your FLHSMV driving record with 3 points, plus the Monroe civil penalty.[2]
Points and license consequences
Under Fla. Stat. §322.27, the FLHSMV assesses points against your driving record for adjudicated infractions. The accumulation thresholds:[8]
- 12 points in 12 months → 30-day license suspension
- 18 points in 18 months → 3-month suspension
- 24 points in 36 months → 1-year suspension
Speeding 1–14 mph over is 3 points; 15+ mph over is 4 points; any speeding causing a crash is 6 points. A single adjudicated ticket rarely triggers suspension, but two within a year can.
What happens if you don't pay
- Day 0: Citation issued. You have 30 days.
- Day 30: If unpaid and no hearing elected, the Clerk enters civil judgment plus a $16 late fee.[5]
- ~Day 40: FLHSMV issues a D-6 license suspension under §322.245. Your insurance, employer (CDL holders), and any future traffic stop will see it.[5]
- Driving on a D-6 is a second-degree misdemeanor (1st offense) under §322.34 — separate criminal charge, jail-eligible, with cumulative license sanctions.[6]
- Clearing a D-6 requires paying the original fine + late fees + a $60 reinstatement fee + $6.25 service charge to FLHSMV.[5]
Your three options after a Monroe citation
Option 1
Pay the fine
Fastest resolution. Pleads guilty. Points hit your record; insurer typically surcharges for 3 years.
Option 2
Elect traffic school
BDI election under §318.14(9). Withholds adjudication — no points, no insurance reporting. Limited to 5 times in a lifetime and once per 12 months.[4]
Option 3
Contest
Plead not guilty and request a hearing. An attorney can often negotiate withhold of adjudication without you appearing.
How to pay or contest in Monroe
Monroe County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
Kevin Madok, CPA — Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, Monroe County.[9]
- Pay online
- Monroe Clerk traffic payments page · Online + in-person (Monroe accepts payments only on citations issued in Monroe County)
- Phone
- 305-295-3130 (traffic) · 305-292-3553 (D-6 / reinstatement) · Plantation Key 305-852-7145 · Marathon 305-289-6027
- Mail (check or money order)
- Monroe is in-person + online + email-only — no canonical mailing P.O. box published on the Clerk's traffic page. Use traffic@monroe-clerk.com for hearing requests.
- Hours
- M–F 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tools & forms
- D-6 license suspension status check — Monroe defers to FLHSMV
- Traffic FAQ (contest workflow — email traffic@monroe-clerk.com)
- Notarized traffic-school affidavit
- Approved BDI providers — FLHSMV statewide list
- Full fee schedule — all civil traffic infractions
Three Clerk locations along the Overseas Highway: Key West (500 Whitehead Street, the historic main courthouse), Marathon (3117 Overseas Hwy.), and Plantation Key (88820 Overseas Hwy.).[9]
Recent enforcement in Monroe
- Standing — MCSO 'Officer Grinch' school-zone speed-enforcement detail — uniformed deputies clock speed near Florida Keys elementary and middle schools and historically hand violators an onion in lieu of a written citation. Program origin: a 20-year-old initiative launched by a retired MCSO Colonel.[10]
- 2026-03-31 — Florida Highway Patrol Troop E (Miami-Dade + Monroe) joined the statewide spring-break DUI and traffic-safety enforcement push with local partners.[11]
- Standing — MCSO Traffic Alert and Arrests press feeds — running 2025–2026 traffic-enforcement bulletins published to keysso.net and MCSO social channels.[12]
Insurance premium impact
A speeding ticket recorded against your Florida driving record typically surcharges auto-insurance premiums for three years. The ranges below reflect 2025–2026 Florida rate data published by Bankrate, Insurance.com, and The Zebra (all Quadrant-sourced). Per-carrier variance is extreme — Bankrate documents +8% to +185% swings on the same speeding citation depending on insurer.
| Violation | Premium change | Rating window |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding 1–15 mph over | +8% to +19% | 3 yr |
| Speeding 16–29 mph over | +19% to +31% | 3 yr |
| Speeding 30+ mph over | +20% to +45% | 3 yr |
| Reckless driving (§316.192) | +44% to +52% | 3–5 yr |
| DUI 1st offense (§316.193) | +53% to +58% | 3–5 yr |
| Red light camera NOV (§316.0083) | No change | — |
Why the camera NOV doesn't affect insurance: §316.0083(1)(b)(1) classifies the camera-issued violation as a civil penalty and explicitly directs that no §322.27 points be recorded. With no points on the FLHSMV record, insurance underwriters don't see it.[13]
Sources: Bankrate FL speeding-ticket rate study (Nov 2025); Insurance.com Florida speeding-ticket calculator; The Zebra Florida high-risk drivers data. Carrier-specific quotes can fall far outside these ranges.
Frequently asked questions
Got a Monroe speeding ticket?
We'll handle it.
Upload a photo of your citation. A Bar-licensed Florida attorney reviews and resolves it — typically without you appearing in court.
Sources & citations
- [1]Monroe County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Section 10: County Court Criminal & Traffic fee schedule. https://monroe-clerk.com/section-10-county-court-criminal-and-traffic · accessed 2026-05-30 ↩
- [2]Fla. Stat. §316.0083 — Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act (red light cameras). Civil NOV $158, no points, no insurance reporting. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.0083.html · accessed 2026-05-30 ↩
- [3]Fla. Stat. §318.18 — Schedule of civil penalties. Establishes the statutory base fines layered with county court costs. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0318/Sections/0318.18.html · accessed 2026-05-30 ↩
- [4]Fla. Stat. §318.14(9) — Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) election. 5-times-lifetime + 1-per-12-months limits. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0318/Sections/0318.14.html · accessed 2026-05-30 ↩
- [5]Fla. Stat. §322.245 — D-6 license suspension for failure to comply with traffic summons. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0322/Sections/0322.245.html · accessed 2026-05-30 ↩
- [6]Fla. Stat. §322.34 — Driving while license suspended, revoked, canceled, or disqualified. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0322/Sections/0322.34.html · accessed 2026-05-30 ↩
- [7]Florida CS/CS/CS/HB 351 (2025), Ch. 2025-77, Laws of Florida — Dangerous Excessive Speeding. Creates the criminal offense at §316.1922. Effective July 1, 2025. https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/351 · accessed 2026-05-30 ↩
- [8]Fla. Stat. §322.27 — Florida point assessment schedule. 12 pts / 12 mo → 30-day suspension; 18 pts / 18 mo → 3-month suspension; 24 pts / 36 mo → 1-year suspension. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0322/Sections/0322.27.html · accessed 2026-05-30 ↩
- [9]Monroe County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Traffic Instructions and operational page (Clerk: Kevin Madok, CPA; 3 courthouses along the Overseas Highway; 305-295-3130 traffic; M–F 8:30–5). https://monroe-clerk.com/traffic-instructions · accessed 2026-05-30 ↩
- [10]WGCU (NPR/PBS station) coverage of MCSO 'Officer Grinch' school-zone speed-enforcement detail (2025-12-20 — used for date confirmation; the program itself is MCSO and is referenced on MCSO social channels). https://www.wgcu.org/section/human-interest/2025-12-20/officer-grinch-gives-florida-keys-drivers-onions-instead-of-tickets · accessed 2026-05-30 ↩
- [11]FLHSMV press release: Florida Highway Patrol Troop E + local partners on the 2026 spring-break traffic-safety push. https://www.flhsmv.gov/2026/03/31/florida-highway-patrol-and-local-law-enforcement-partners-team-up-to-take-on-spring-break/ · accessed 2026-05-30 ↩
- [12]Monroe County Sheriff's Office — running arrests feed (used as the live source for current traffic-enforcement bulletins; MCSO does not maintain a structured press-release archive). https://www.keysso.net/arrests · accessed 2026-05-30 ↩
- [13]Fla. Stat. §316.0083(1)(b)(1) — Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act. Civil NOV is not a moving violation; no §322.27 points; no insurance reporting when paid before escalation to a UTC under §316.0083(1)(b)(4). http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.0083.html · accessed 2026-05-30 ↩
- [14]Fla. Stat. §316.1926 — Higher speeding penalties; mandatory court appearance for speeding 50+ mph over the posted limit (predates HB 351; civil routing into Ch. 318). http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.1926.html · accessed 2026-05-30 ↩