Etowah County Traffic Ticket Records

Traffic ticket records in Etowah County are maintained by the Circuit Clerk at the Etowah County Courthouse in Gadsden. The county operates within the 16th Judicial Circuit as a single-county circuit. Cassandra Johnson currently serves as Circuit Clerk and oversees all court record keeping. All traffic citations issued by Alabama State Troopers patrolling Interstate 59 and US Highway 411, Etowah County Sheriff deputies, and municipal police departments are processed through the District Court division. Etowah County is located in northeast Alabama and covers major highway corridors, generating substantial traffic enforcement activity throughout the year.

Circuit Clerk Office

The Etowah County Circuit Clerk serves as the official custodian of all court records for the 16th Judicial Circuit. Cassandra Johnson currently holds this position. The office maintains traffic court records, civil case files, criminal records, and domestic relations matters at the Etowah County Courthouse on Forrest Avenue in Gadsden.

Gadsden Municipal Court

Traffic citations issued by Gadsden city police within city limits are processed through the Gadsden Municipal Court. This court handles violations of city traffic ordinances and state traffic laws occurring within city boundaries.

Defensive Driving School

First ticket? The court might let you take a class instead. Gadsden runs driving school on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Monday each month. It runs from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Call (256) 549-4595 to sign up if the judge gave you this option.

How to Search Traffic Ticket Records

Online Search Options

Etowah County traffic records are available 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 system provides options for paying fines online, checking case status, and viewing disposition information.

The Alacourt Access subscription service at pa.alacourt.com offers comprehensive record searches across all Alabama state courts including Etowah County. Searches can be conducted by defendant name or case number. This service requires registration and charges per-search fees.

Guilty Plea by Mail

Got a small ticket? You might be able to plead guilty by mail. Just sign the back of your citation. Send it in with a cashier's check or money order. No personal checks though. Call the court first to make sure your ticket type can be done this way.

In-Person Requests

Visit the Circuit Clerk office at 801 Forrest Avenue in Gadsden during regular business hours. Bring valid photo identification and any case information you have. Staff can conduct record searches and provide copies of court documents while you wait for most requests.

Felony and State Trooper Citations

Felony traffic charges and citations issued by state troopers or sheriff deputies are handled through the District Attorney's office. Contact the Etowah County District Attorney for information on these cases.

Record Request Fees

Etowah County follows Alabama's standard fee schedule for court record services. These fees apply to record searches and document copies 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 mandates that all law enforcement agencies use the standardized Uniform Traffic Ticket and Complaint form for traffic citations. This requirement applies to state troopers, Etowah County Sheriff deputies, and all municipal police departments. The UTC number printed on the ticket serves as the primary case identifier.

Traffic Violation Penalties

Under Alabama Code Section 32-5A-8, most traffic violations are classified as misdemeanors. First offense convictions carry maximum fines of $100 or imprisonment up to 10 days. Repeat violations result in increased penalties. Serious offenses including DUI, reckless driving, and leaving the scene of an accident carry substantially higher penalties under separate code provisions.

Public Records Access

Traffic court records are public records under Alabama Code Sections 36-12-40 through 36-12-46, the Open Records Act. Alabama residents may request copies of court records for a fee. Juvenile traffic records and sealed cases are exempt from public inspection. Standard fees apply for search and copy services.

License Suspension for Non-Payment

Skip paying? Your license gets pulled. Miss court? Same deal. This happens on its own - it's automatic. The court may also send out a warrant. To get your license back, pay up. That means all fines, court costs, and ALEA fees.

Cities and Towns in Etowah County

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

Major communities in Etowah County include Gadsden (the county seat), Attalla, Rainbow City, Glencoe, Southside, Hokes Bluff, and Sardis City. Gadsden is the largest city and operates its own municipal court with a defensive driving school program.

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

Nearby Counties

Etowah County is located in northeast Alabama 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 Etowah County. Enter a name or case number to begin your search.