Access DeKalb County Traffic Ticket Records

Traffic ticket records in DeKalb County are at the courthouse in Fort Payne. The 9th Judicial Circuit covers DeKalb and Cherokee counties. State troopers, deputies, and city cops all file their tickets here. District Court handles the cases. The clerk keeps full records on everything. The original ticket, court appearances, final outcome, and payment info. DeKalb sits in northeast Alabama on Lookout Mountain. Interstate 59 runs through here. That means lots of traffic enforcement.

Circuit Clerk Office

The DeKalb County Circuit Clerk maintains court records for the 9th Judicial Circuit within DeKalb County. This includes traffic cases processed through the District Court, as well as civil, criminal, and domestic relations cases. The office is located at the DeKalb County Courthouse on Grand Avenue in Fort Payne.

Fort Payne Municipal Court

Traffic citations issued by Fort Payne city police within the city limits are handled through the Fort Payne Municipal Court. This court processes violations of city traffic ordinances and state traffic laws that occur within city boundaries. Contact the Fort Payne Municipal Court directly for city police tickets.

Rainsville Municipal Court

The city of Rainsville operates its own municipal court for traffic citations issued by Rainsville police officers. These cases are separate from the county District Court system.

How to Search Traffic Ticket Records

Online Search Options

DeKalb County traffic records can be accessed through the Alabama Traffic Service Center at traffic.alacourt.gov. Enter your Uniform Traffic Citation (UTC) number from the ticket along with your date of birth to search for your case. The portal provides options for paying fines online, requesting driving school when eligible, and checking your case status.

Need a bigger search? Alacourt Access at pa.alacourt.com covers all Alabama courts. Search by name or case number. You have to sign up and pay per search.

In-Person Requests

Visit the Circuit Clerk office at the DeKalb County Courthouse during regular business hours. Bring valid photo identification and any case information you have available. Staff can conduct record searches and provide copies of court documents while you wait for most standard requests.

Mail Requests

Submit a written request to the Circuit Clerk at the courthouse address. Include the defendant's full legal name, approximate date of the citation, case number if known, and payment for the applicable fees by check or money order. Include your return address and allow one to two weeks for processing.

Payment Methods

Traffic fines can be paid online through AlaPay at alapay.com using a credit or debit card. In-person payments are accepted at the Circuit Clerk office by cash, money order, or certified check. Personal checks are not accepted for traffic fine payments. Municipal court fines must be paid at the respective city court.

Record Request Fees

DeKalb County follows Alabama's standard court record fee schedule. These fees apply to searches and document copies obtained from the Circuit Clerk office.

Online payments through AlaPay include a convenience fee of approximately 4%. Cash payments made at the courthouse do not have additional fees.

Alabama Traffic Ticket Laws

Uniform Traffic Ticket Requirements

Alabama Code Section 12-12-53 requires all law enforcement agencies to use the standardized Uniform Traffic Ticket and Complaint form. This requirement applies to state troopers, DeKalb County Sheriff deputies, and all municipal police departments. The UTC number on each ticket serves as the primary identifier for tracking cases through the court system.

Traffic Violation Penalties

Under Alabama Code Section 32-5A-8, most traffic violations are misdemeanors. First-time convictions carry maximum penalties of $100 in fines or 10 days imprisonment. Repeat offenses result in higher penalties. Serious violations such as DUI, reckless driving, and hit-and-run carry substantially increased fines and potential jail time under separate code provisions.

Public Records Access

Court records in Alabama are public records under Alabama Code Sections 36-12-40 through 36-12-46, known as the Open Records Act. Alabama residents may request copies of traffic court records. Juvenile records and cases sealed by court order are not available for public inspection. Standard fees apply for search and copy services.

Consequences of Non-Payment

Don't pay or show up? Your license gets pulled. It's automatic. A warrant could come too. You can't get your license back until you pay everything. Fines, court costs, and ALEA fees.

Cities and Towns in DeKalb County

DeKalb County contains multiple municipalities with local police departments. City police traffic citations are generally handled through municipal courts, while state trooper and sheriff citations go through the county District Court.

Major communities in DeKalb County include Fort Payne (the county seat), Rainsville, Collinsville, Fyffe, Geraldine, Henagar, Ider, Mentone, Sylvania, and Valley Head. Fort Payne and Rainsville operate their own municipal courts.

No cities in DeKalb County currently meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site. For municipal court information, contact the city where your ticket was issued. For county District Court records, contact the Circuit Clerk office in Fort Payne.

Nearby Counties

DeKalb County is located in northeast Alabama on Lookout Mountain and borders several other counties. Verify which county has jurisdiction before contacting the court about your traffic citation.

Search Traffic Records Now

Use the search tool below to find traffic ticket records in DeKalb County. Enter a name or case number to begin your search.