St. Clair County Traffic Ticket Records

Traffic ticket records for St. Clair County are maintained by the Circuit Clerk's office, which operates out of two locations in this unique county. St. Clair is one of only a handful of Alabama counties with dual county seats, with courthouses in both Ashville and Pell City. The county is part of the 30th Judicial Circuit. Interstate 20 runs through the southern portion of the county near Pell City, seeing heavy traffic between Birmingham and Atlanta. Highway 231 and other state routes also cross through the county. State troopers and county deputies actively patrol these roads. Traffic citations issued anywhere in St. Clair County are processed through the district court division of the Circuit Clerk's office.

St. Clair County Circuit Clerk

Kathryn Burke is the St. Clair County Circuit Clerk. She runs both the Ashville and Pell City offices. Need help with a traffic case? Either one works. They can look up your case, take your payment, tell you your court date, or get you copies of documents. Where you go to court depends on where you got the ticket. It could be at either courthouse.

Ashville Division

Pell City Division

How to Search Traffic Records

St. Clair County traffic records can be accessed through Alabama's statewide court system. The Alacourt Access website at pa.alacourt.com provides free online searches by name or case number. This database includes district court traffic cases and shows basic information such as charges, court dates, and case status.

For in-person searches, visit either the Ashville or Pell City courthouse during regular business hours. Bring identification and the name of the person whose records you are searching. Staff can perform lookups while you wait and provide copies for applicable fees.

To request records by mail, send your request to either courthouse location. Include the subject's full legal name, date of birth if known, citation number if available, and your return address. Enclose payment for search and copy fees with a check or money order payable to the St. Clair County Circuit Clerk. Processing typically takes one to two weeks.

Responding to Traffic Citations

After receiving a traffic ticket in St. Clair County, review the citation carefully for your options and deadlines. Most minor violations allow you to pay the fine without appearing in court. The ticket will indicate whether this is an option for your specific violation.

Payment methods include the AlaPay online system at alapay.com, which accepts credit and debit cards. You can also pay by mail or in person at either courthouse. For mail payments, send a check or money order to the appropriate division based on where your case was filed.

Want to fight your ticket? Show up on your court date. Plead not guilty. Ask for a trial. First-time offenders might get lucky. Traffic school could be an option. It helps get rid of points on your driving record. Or at least cuts them down.

Some bad tickets mean you must show up. No choice. DUI? You go to court. Reckless driving? Same deal. Driving on a suspended license or causing a wreck with injuries? Court is mandatory. Skip it and things get worse. More fines pile up. A warrant could go out for your arrest.

Fees for Records and Copies

St. Clair County charges the standard Alabama court fees for record searches and document copies. These fees apply at both the Ashville and Pell City offices.

Certified copies may be needed for insurance purposes, license reinstatement, or legal proceedings. The certification fee is charged per document. Regular copies are fine for personal reference.

Alabama Traffic Statutes

Traffic enforcement and court procedures in St. Clair County follow Alabama state laws that apply across all 67 counties. These statutes establish uniform standards for citations, penalties, and public access to records.

Alabama Code Section 12-12-53 creates the Uniform Traffic Ticket and Complaint, the standardized form used by all law enforcement in the state. This ensures that traffic citations contain consistent information regardless of which agency issued the ticket. The form includes the alleged violation, court date, and instructions for the recipient.

Traffic violation penalties are outlined in Alabama Code Section 32-5A-8 and other sections of Title 32. These statutes establish fine ranges and other consequences for various offenses. Courts have discretion within these statutory limits when imposing sentences.

Alabama Code Section 36-12-40 governs public access to government records. Under this Open Records law, traffic court records are generally available for public inspection. Case outcomes, fines, and payment records are typically accessible, though some personal information may be protected.

St. Clair County maintains courthouses in both Ashville and Pell City, with Circuit Clerk offices at each location.

Electronic Court Notices

St. Clair County participates in Alabama's electronic notification system. If you have a pending traffic case, you can register for free electronic notices through the AlaFile system at alafile.alacourt.gov. This allows you to receive email notifications about case updates, court dates, and other important information. Pro se litigants, meaning individuals representing themselves without an attorney, can use this system to stay informed about their cases.

Cities and Towns in St. Clair County

St. Clair County includes several municipalities. Pell City is the largest city and serves as one of the two county seats. Other significant communities include Moody, Springville, Ragland, and Odenville. Each municipality may have its own court for city ordinance violations, but traffic offenses on state and county roads are handled through the county court system.

None of the cities in St. Clair County meet the population threshold for dedicated pages on this site. For traffic matters in any St. Clair County municipality, contact the municipal court for city violations or the county Circuit Clerk for state and county violations.

Nearby Counties

Traffic records from neighboring counties are available through their respective Circuit Clerk offices.