Search Tuscaloosa County Traffic Ticket Records

Traffic ticket records for Tuscaloosa County are maintained by the Circuit Clerk's office at the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse. As one of the largest and most populous counties in Alabama, Tuscaloosa processes a high volume of traffic cases each year. The county is part of the 6th Judicial Circuit. Interstate 20/59 runs through the heart of Tuscaloosa, carrying heavy traffic between Birmingham and Mississippi. The University of Alabama, with over 38,000 students, adds substantial traffic to the area, especially during football season. State troopers, county deputies, and local police all issue citations that are processed through the county court system. The Circuit Clerk oversees the district court records division where traffic cases are filed.

Tuscaloosa County Circuit Clerk

Magaria H. Bobo runs the Tuscaloosa County Circuit Clerk office. Her team deals with case filings, payments, court dates, and record requests. Got a traffic case? They can look it up. Need to know what you owe? Ask them. Want your court date? They have it. Need copies of court papers? They do that too. Find them at the courthouse on Greensboro Avenue.

Searching for Traffic Records

Tuscaloosa County traffic records are accessible through multiple channels. Alabama's Alacourt Access system at pa.alacourt.com offers free online case searches by name or case number. This statewide database includes district court traffic cases and displays basic case information such as charges, court dates, and dispositions.

For in-person record searches, visit the Circuit Clerk's office at the courthouse during business hours. Provide the name and any identifying information for the person whose records you need. Staff can search the database while you wait and provide copies of documents for applicable fees.

Mail requests should be sent to the Circuit Clerk at 714 Greensboro Ave, Room 214, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. Include the subject's full legal name, date of birth if available, approximate date of the citation, and your contact information. Enclose payment for search and copy fees by check or money order made payable to the Tuscaloosa County Circuit Clerk. Allow one to two weeks for processing.

Handling Traffic Citations

Got a traffic ticket in Tuscaloosa County? Read it well. Your options are right there. Most small tickets let you pay and be done. No court trip needed. Look at the instructions. See the deadline. Don't miss it.

Online payment through AlaPay at alapay.com is available for many traffic fines. You will need your citation number to look up your ticket. The system accepts credit and debit cards, with a convenience fee for the transaction. This is often the fastest way to resolve a payable offense.

You can also pay in person at the courthouse or by mail. Cash, cashier's checks, and money orders are accepted. Personal check policies may vary, so call ahead to confirm. For mail payments, send your payment with the ticket stub to the Circuit Clerk's office.

Some tickets mean you must go to court. DUI is one. Reckless driving too. Got a suspended license? Court is mandatory. Same with wrecks where someone got hurt. The city court in Tuscaloosa handles city tickets on its own. They have set times for traffic court.

Tuscaloosa Municipal Court

The City of Tuscaloosa operates its own municipal court for violations that occur within city limits. Traffic citations issued by Tuscaloosa city police are typically handled through this court rather than the county system.

Check your citation to determine whether your case will be handled by the municipal court or the county court. City police tickets generally go to municipal court, while state trooper and sheriff tickets go through the county system.

Record Search and Copy Fees

Tuscaloosa County uses the standard Alabama fee schedule for court record searches and copies. These fees apply to requests made through any channel.

Certified copies are needed for many official purposes including license reinstatement, insurance verification, and court proceedings. The certification fee is per document. Standard copies are fine for personal reference.

Alabama Traffic Statutes

Traffic enforcement in Tuscaloosa County follows Alabama state laws that apply uniformly across the state. Most court records are public under the Alabama Open Records Act, though certain Family Law records are exempt.

Alabama Code Section 12-12-53 establishes the Uniform Traffic Ticket and Complaint as the standard citation form used by all law enforcement in Alabama. This ensures that traffic tickets contain consistent information about the violation and the defendant's options for responding.

Alabama Code Section 32-5A-8 and other sections of Title 32 establish penalties for traffic violations. Fines, points, license suspension, and other consequences are set by statute, with judges having discretion within the legal limits.

Alabama Code Section 36-12-40 protects public access to government records including traffic court files. Case outcomes, payment histories, and other case information are generally available for public inspection under this Open Records provision.

Tuscaloosa County Courthouse on Greensboro Avenue. The Circuit Clerk's office on the second floor maintains all traffic court records.

Cities and Towns in Tuscaloosa County

Tuscaloosa County includes the city of Tuscaloosa and several smaller municipalities. The city of Tuscaloosa is by far the largest, serving as both the county seat and home to the University of Alabama. Other communities include Northport, Cottondale, Coaling, and Brookwood.

Tuscaloosa is the only city in the county that meets the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. For city traffic violations within Tuscaloosa, check with the municipal court. For county and state violations, the Circuit Clerk's office handles the records.

Nearby Counties

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