Find Traffic Court Records in DeKalb County

Traffic court records in DeKalb County are kept at the Circuit Clerk's office in Fort Payne. The 9th Judicial Circuit covers this county along with Cherokee County next door. DeKalb gets a lot of tourist traffic thanks to places like Little River Canyon and Mentone. That means plenty of out-of-state folks get tickets here each year. District court handles most traffic misdemeanors. Circuit court takes on felony cases. Fort Payne and other cities have their own municipal courts for city police tickets.

DeKalb County Circuit Clerk

The Circuit Clerk's office is the official keeper of all court records in DeKalb County. This covers traffic citations, court outcomes, fine payment records, and driving-related criminal cases. Need a copy of something? The office can get you copies of most court documents. Staff are used to these requests and can point you in the right direction even if you're not sure exactly what you need.

The clerk's office shares the 9th Judicial Circuit with Cherokee County. Judges rotate between the two courthouses, so scheduling can get tricky. Check with the clerk about your specific court date.

How to Search Traffic Records

Online Search

DeKalb County traffic records can be found on the statewide Alacourt Public Access system. Search by name or case number for $9.99 per search. If you need to check cases often, they have subscription plans. The Online Traffic Resolution portal lets you look up active tickets with your citation number and date of birth.

In-Person Requests

Stop by the Circuit Clerk's office in the DeKalb County Courthouse during regular hours. Bring the case number if you have it, or the name and rough date of the citation. Staff can help check case status, pull copies, and take payments. There's also a public computer you can use to search on your own.

Written Requests

Mail requests to the Circuit Clerk at the address above. Put in as much info as you can: full name, date of birth, case number if you know it, and what docs you need. Send payment by check or money order to the DeKalb County Circuit Clerk. Call ahead if you're not sure what the fee will be.

Fees and Costs

Traffic Ticket Fines

Traffic fines in DeKalb County vary by offense. Basic speeding tickets run $150 to $300 with court costs. Stop sign and red light tickets are similar. Reckless driving can hit $500 or more. DUI starts at about $600 for first offenses, but the real cost comes from alcohol programs, license reinstatement, and other fees - expect over $2,000 total when it's all said and done.

Record Copy Fees

Payment Methods

Pay fines online at ALAPay.com or call 1-877-252-7294. They take credit and debit cards with a fee added. At the courthouse, pay with cash, money order, or cashier's check. Personal checks usually aren't accepted for fines. If the full amount is too much at once, ask about payment plans before your court date.

Legal Framework

Traffic offenses in DeKalb County are governed by Alabama state law. District courts have original jurisdiction over misdemeanor traffic cases under Code of Alabama Section 12-12-51. City courts handle tickets issued under municipal ordinances.

Most traffic violations are misdemeanors under Section 32-5A-8 of the Alabama Code. Speed limit violations fall under Sections 32-5A-170 through 32-5A-178. Reckless driving is defined in Section 32-5A-190. DUI laws are found in Section 32-5A-191, covering blood alcohol limits, penalties, and implied consent rules.

Traffic court records are public under Section 36-12-40. Alabama's public records law gives citizens the right to access most court documents. Some records involving juveniles or certain personal identifiers may have restricted access.

DeKalb County falls within the federal Northern District of Alabama for any federal court matters. State traffic cases are handled entirely at the county level through the district and circuit courts.

Additional Resources

District Attorney's Office

The 9th Circuit DA handles traffic cases that go to trial. Contact the DA's office about plea deals, traffic school, or case status. They can tell you what options might be open based on your record and the specific charge.

Legal Aid

Legal Services Alabama gives free legal help to low-income folks. They may help with traffic court in some cases. Call 1-866-456-4995 to check if you qualify.

Fort Payne Municipal Court

Fort Payne city police tickets go through Fort Payne Municipal Court, not the county. Call the city court for info on municipal tickets. Cities like Rainsville, Sylvania, and Collinsville each have their own courts too. Make sure you contact the right one.

Out-of-State Drivers

Got a ticket while visiting DeKalb County and live out of state? You have options. Many tickets can be paid online or by mail. If you want to fight the ticket, you can hire a local attorney to appear for you. Some cases allow remote appearances too, but you'll need to request that ahead of time. Don't just ignore the ticket - that leads to warrants and suspended licenses, which makes everything worse.

Cities in DeKalb County

DeKalb County includes several municipalities with their own police departments and municipal courts. Tickets from city police are handled by that city's court. Sheriff's deputy and state trooper citations go through the county court system.

• Fort Payne (county seat)
• Rainsville
• Sylvania
• Collinsville
• Henagar
• Fyffe
• Ider
• Valley Head
• Mentone
• Crossville
• Geraldine
• Pine Ridge
• Hammondville
• Powell

Contact the respective municipal court for city-issued citations. The county circuit clerk handles all other traffic cases.

Nearby Counties