Search Houston County Traffic Court Records
Traffic court records in Houston County are kept at the Circuit Clerk's office in Dothan, the largest city in the Wiregrass region of southeast Alabama. The 20th Judicial Circuit covers Houston and Henry Counties. Houston County sees a lot of traffic on US Highway 231 and Highway 84 - major routes connecting Florida, Georgia, and central Alabama. The county court system has seven judges handling all kinds of cases. Dothan Municipal Court handles city police tickets. The county handles sheriff and trooper citations.
Houston County Quick Facts
Houston County Circuit Clerk
The Circuit Clerk's office is the official record keeper for all court docs in Houston County. Traffic citations, case outcomes, fine payments, and driving-related criminal records are kept here. The county has circuit court, district court, and probate court all working together. Need copies of something? Staff can help you get what you need for a fee.
| Circuit Clerk | Carla Woodall |
|---|---|
| Address | Houston County Courthouse Dothan, AL 36303 |
| Phone | (334) 677-4766 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | houston.alacourt.gov |
Want to get case updates by email? Sign up for e-notices at alafile.alacourt.gov. Register as a pro se party and call the Clerk's Office if you need help setting it up.
Dothan Municipal Court
Dothan city police tickets go through Dothan Municipal Court, not the county. This court handles a lot of traffic cases since Dothan is the hub of the region. Make sure you know which court your ticket goes to before you show up.
| Municipal Judge | Hon. Rose Evans-Gordon |
|---|---|
| Court Clerk | T. Minnifield |
| Address | 210 N Saint Andrews Street Dothan, AL 36303 |
| Phone | (334) 615-4150 |
How to Search Traffic Records
Online Search
Houston County traffic records can be searched at Alacourt Public Access. Search by name or case number for $9.99 per search. They have subscription plans if you need regular access. The Online Traffic Resolution system lets you look up pending tickets with your citation number and date of birth.
In-Person Requests
Go to the Circuit Clerk's office at the Houston County Courthouse in downtown Dothan during business hours. Bring the case number if you have it, or the name and rough date of the ticket. Staff can check status, pull copies, and take payments. For Dothan city tickets, go to municipal court at 210 N Saint Andrews Street instead.
Mail and Phone
Call (334) 677-4766 for case status or fines. For written requests, mail to the Circuit Clerk at the courthouse address. Include the full name, date of birth, case number if you have it, and what docs you need. Send payment for copy fees. Call first if you're not sure what the fee will be.
Fees and Costs
Traffic Ticket Fines
Traffic fines in Houston County vary by offense. Speeding tickets run $150 to $300 with court costs. Stop sign and red light tickets are about the same. Reckless driving can top $500 plus costs. First-offense DUI fines start around $600, but add in alcohol programs, license reinstatement, and maybe an ignition interlock, and you're looking at over $2,000 total.
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 Options
Pay fines online at ALAPay.com or call 1-877-252-7294. They take credit and debit cards with a fee. At the courthouse, pay with cash, money order, or cashier's check. Personal checks usually aren't accepted for fines.
Legal Framework
Traffic cases in Houston County follow Alabama state traffic laws. District courts have original jurisdiction over misdemeanor traffic prosecutions under Code of Alabama Section 12-12-51. Municipal courts handle city ordinance violations.
Most traffic offenses are misdemeanors under Section 32-5A-8. Speed limit laws appear in Sections 32-5A-170 through 32-5A-178. Reckless driving is defined in Section 32-5A-190. DUI offenses fall under Section 32-5A-191, with blood alcohol limits and penalty schedules.
Court records are public under Section 36-12-40. Alabama law gives citizens the right to access court documents. Juvenile records and certain personal identifiers may have restricted access.
The 20th Judicial Circuit covers Houston and Henry Counties, with seven judges handling all kinds of cases. Houston County is the bigger of the two, so most court resources are based in Dothan. That means cases here usually move faster than in Henry County.
Additional Resources
District Attorney's Office
The 20th Circuit DA handles traffic cases that go to trial. Want to know about plea deals, traffic school, or case status? Call the DA's office. They can tell you what options might work for your situation based on your record and the charge.
| Address | Houston County Courthouse Dothan, AL 36303 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (334) 677-4820 |
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 see if you qualify.
Traffic School
Some tickets in Houston County may qualify for dismissal if you take a defensive driving course. Contact the DA's office or clerk before your court date to see if this option is open to you. It's not available for every violation, but it's worth asking about.
Cities in Houston County
Houston County includes Dothan, the largest city in the Wiregrass region. Cities with police departments have municipal courts for city-issued tickets. County courts handle sheriff and state trooper citations.
Other cities in Houston County include:
- Ashford
- Cowarts
- Columbia
- Gordon
- Kinsey
- Taylor
For Dothan city police tickets, contact the Dothan Municipal Court. For other city tickets, contact the respective municipal court. Sheriff and trooper citations go through the county circuit clerk's office.