Search Dale County Traffic Court Records
Traffic court records in Dale County go through the 33rd Judicial Circuit, which also covers Geneva County. The Circuit Clerk's office in Ozark keeps all traffic case files. This includes citations from the Dale County Sheriff's Office and Alabama State Troopers. Fort Novosel (the base once known as Fort Rucker) brings a lot of traffic to the area since so many military folks and their families live here. The district court handles most traffic misdemeanors. More serious traffic charges go to circuit court. Ozark Municipal Court takes care of tickets that city police write within town limits.
Dale County Quick Facts
Dale County Circuit Clerk
The Circuit Clerk is the official record keeper for all court documents in Dale County. Traffic cases flow through this office, whether they are minor tickets or more serious charges. Need a copy of your case file? The clerk can help. They also keep payment histories and court dispositions on hand. If you want to know what happened in an old case or check your fine balance, this is where you start. The staff deals with these requests all the time and can point you in the right direction even if you're not sure what you need.
| Circuit Clerk | Delores P. Woodham |
|---|---|
| Address | 3 E. Court Square P.O. Box 1350 Ozark, AL 36361 |
| Phone | (334) 774-5003 |
| Dale@vote.alabama.gov | |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | dale.alacourt.gov |
For jury duty inquiries, contact Melanie Davis at melanie.davis@alacourt.gov or call (334) 774-8011.
How to Search Traffic Records
Online Search
Dale County traffic records can be found through the statewide Alacourt system at pa.alacourt.com. You can search by name or case number. A name search costs $9.99. They also have subscription plans if you need to check cases often. The Online Traffic Resolution portal lets you look up tickets with your citation number and date of birth.
In-Person Requests
Stop by the Circuit Clerk's office at the Dale County Courthouse during regular hours. Bring the case number if you have it. If not, the full name and a rough idea of when the ticket was issued will work. Staff can help you find case status and pull documents. They'll also walk you through payment options if you need that. There's a public computer in the office where you can search records on your own too.
Mail and Phone Requests
Send written requests to the Circuit Clerk at the address above. Put in as much info as you can: full name, date of birth, case number, and what docs you need. Include a check or money order for copy fees. You can also call the office to check on case status or ask about fee amounts before you mail your request. The staff is used to helping people who aren't sure where to start, so don't worry if you're missing some details - just include what you have and they'll work with you.
Fees and Costs
Traffic Ticket Fines
Traffic fines in Dale County vary by offense. A basic speeding ticket runs $150 to $300 with court costs added in. Stop sign and red light tickets cost about the same. Reckless driving can top $500. DUI charges start at about $600 for a first offense. But that's just the fine - you'll also pay for alcohol safety programs and license reinstatement, which adds up fast.
Record Copy Fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Case copies (1-20 pages) | $5.00 |
| Additional pages (over 20) | $0.50 per page |
| Certification | $5.00 |
| Alacourt name search | $9.99 |
Payment Methods
Pay fines online at ALAPay.com or call 1-877-252-7294 to pay by phone. They take credit and debit cards, but there's a fee. At the courthouse, you can pay with cash, money order, or cashier's check. Personal checks are not accepted for fines in most cases. If you can't pay the full amount at once, ask the clerk about payment plan options before your court date.
Legal Framework
Traffic offenses in Dale County are governed by Alabama state statutes. Under Code of Alabama Section 12-12-51, district courts have exclusive original jurisdiction over traffic misdemeanor prosecutions. The municipal court in Ozark handles citations issued under city ordinances.
Most traffic violations are Class C misdemeanors under Section 32-5A-8. Speed limit violations fall under Sections 32-5A-170 through 32-5A-178. Reckless driving is defined in Section 32-5A-190, while DUI offenses are covered by Section 32-5A-191. More serious traffic crimes, like vehicular homicide, can be charged as felonies.
Traffic records are public under Section 36-12-40, which gives Alabama residents the right to inspect and copy court records. Some information may be redacted for privacy, particularly in cases involving juveniles or certain personal identifiers.
The 33rd Judicial Circuit shares resources between Dale and Geneva Counties. Cases can sometimes be affected by scheduling across both counties, so check with the clerk about specific court dates.
Additional Resources
District Attorney's Office
The 33rd Circuit District Attorney prosecutes traffic cases that go to trial. If you want to know about plea deals, traffic school, or pending charges, reach out to the DA's office. They can tell you what options might be open to you based on your case and driving history. Some first-time offenders may qualify for programs that keep the ticket off their record.
| Address | Dale County Courthouse Ozark, AL 36361 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (334) 774-2316 |
Legal Aid
Legal Services Alabama gives free legal help to low-income folks. They can help with traffic court in some cases. Call 1-866-456-4995 to see if you qualify.
Ozark Municipal Court
If your ticket was from Ozark city police, it goes through Ozark Municipal Court - not the county system. Contact the city court clerk for these cases. The city court has its own fees and rules, so don't assume the county info applies.
Fort Novosel
Military folks at Fort Novosel with traffic tickets should check where the citation was issued. On-base tickets go through military justice. Off-base tickets go through civilian courts here in Dale County. The two systems are totally separate, so make sure you know which one your case falls under before you try to pay or contest it.
Cities in Dale County
Dale County contains several municipalities with their own courts. Traffic tickets issued by city police are typically handled by that city's municipal court rather than the county district court. Major cities include:
- Ozark (county seat)
- Daleville
- Midland City
- Level Plains
- Pinckard
- Newton
- Ariton
- Clayhatchee
For citations issued within these cities by local police, contact the respective municipal court. Sheriff's deputy and state trooper citations go through the county court system in Ozark.