Criminal Traffic Defense

When a traffic case is a crime

Not every traffic offense is a crime. Many Florida citations are civil infractions. But Florida also has criminal traffic offenses — including reckless driving, DUI, driving while license suspended in circumstances that make the offense criminal, racing, fleeing or attempting to elude, and certain serious crash cases.

A civil infraction generally involves a monetary penalty and potentially points. A criminal traffic offense can involve a criminal record, fingerprinting, probation, substantial fines, community service, driver's-license consequences, and jail or prison exposure.

Florida's statutes make that distinction important. A civil infraction is generally noncriminal under §318.14, while reckless driving is a criminal offense and dangerous excessive speeding is now separately criminalized.

“Traffic” does not necessarily mean “minor.” Explore the criminal-traffic series below.