Find Traffic Court Records in Lee County
Traffic court records in Lee County are maintained at the T.K. Davis Justice Center in Opelika. The county is part of the 37th Judicial Circuit and handles traffic cases through the district court system. If you got a ticket from a sheriff's deputy or state trooper, your case goes to the Circuit Clerk's office at the Justice Center. But if Auburn or Opelika city police wrote the ticket, you need to contact that city's municipal court instead. This is a common point of confusion, so be sure you know who issued the citation before you start looking for records. The statewide Alacourt system provides online access to county-level traffic records.
Lee County Quick Facts
Lee County Circuit Clerk
The Circuit Clerk's office at the T.K. Davis Justice Center holds all court records for Lee County. Traffic case files from district court are kept here. If a sheriff's deputy or state trooper wrote your ticket, the Circuit Clerk is who you need to talk to. They can look up your case, tell you what you owe, and help you get copies of any papers you need. For city police tickets from Auburn or Opelika, you go to those cities' municipal courts instead. It's a common mix-up, so make sure you know who wrote the ticket before you drive to the wrong place.
| Address | T.K. Davis Justice Center 200 S 6th Street Opelika, AL 36801 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | lee.alacourt.gov |
Opelika Municipal Court
If Opelika city police wrote your ticket, go to municipal court. The Circuit Clerk won't have your case.
| Address | 300 Martin Luther King Boulevard Opelika, AL 36801 |
|---|---|
| Notes | Handles city traffic offenses and municipal ordinance violations |
How to Search Traffic Records in Lee County
Online Search
Lee County traffic records can be searched through the statewide Alacourt Public Access portal at pa.alacourt.com. Search by defendant name or case number. Access fees apply: $9.99 for a name search, $19.99 to $29.99 for case monitoring subscriptions. The Online Traffic Resolution system allows searching by citation number and date of birth to pay tickets online.
In-Person Requests
Go to the T.K. Davis Justice Center during work hours. Bring a case number if you have one. A name and rough date work too. Staff can check case status, make copies, and pull up payment history. Just be sure you're at the right place. County cases are here. City police tickets go to municipal court.
Mail Requests
Written requests can be mailed to the Circuit Clerk. Include the defendant's full name, date of birth, case number if known, and specify what documents are needed. Enclose payment for copy fees. Mail requests to:
Circuit Clerk, Lee County
T.K. Davis Justice Center
200 S 6th Street
Opelika, AL 36801
Fees and Costs
Traffic Court Fines
Traffic violation fines in Lee County vary based on the offense. Standard speeding tickets typically range from $190 to $300 including court costs. More serious violations carry higher penalties. DUI offenses result in fines from $600 to $2,100 for first offenses plus additional costs. Auburn and Opelika may have slightly different fine schedules for municipal violations.
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
Traffic fines can be paid online through ALAPay.com or by phone at 1-877-252-7294. In-person payments are accepted at the courthouse by cash, money order, or cashier's check. Personal checks are typically not accepted. Credit and debit cards are accepted for online and phone payments with a convenience fee.
Legal Framework
Traffic cases in Lee County are governed by Alabama state law. Under Code of Alabama Section 12-12-51, district courts have exclusive original jurisdiction over misdemeanor traffic prosecutions. Municipal courts in Auburn and Opelika have jurisdiction over traffic offenses prosecuted under city ordinances pursuant to Sections 12-14-1 through 12-14-70.
Traffic violations are classified as misdemeanors under Section 32-5A-8 unless specifically designated as felonies. Speed limit violations are covered under Sections 32-5A-170 through 32-5A-178. Reckless driving is defined in Section 32-5A-190, and DUI offenses fall under Section 32-5A-191.
Traffic court records are public records under Section 36-12-40, which establishes the right of Alabama citizens to inspect and copy public records held by courts and state agencies.
Additional Contacts
District Attorney's Office
The 37th Circuit DA runs traffic prosecutions in Lee County. If you have a pending case or want to talk about a plea deal, reach out to their office. They handle the state's side of things. They can tell you what kind of fine or outcome they're pushing for. But they're not your lawyer, so don't expect tips on how to beat a charge. That's what a defense attorney is for.
Legal Resources
Legal Services Alabama provides free legal assistance to qualifying individuals. Contact their intake line at 1-866-456-4995 to see if you qualify for help with traffic court matters.
The Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service can connect you with local attorneys who handle traffic cases. Call (800) 392-5660 for a referral. Auburn and Opelika both have several law firms that handle traffic cases regularly.
Cities in Lee County
Lee County includes the Auburn-Opelika metropolitan area. Traffic citations issued by city police are handled by that city's municipal court. Auburn is home to Auburn University and has a population over 100,000, qualifying for its own city page.
Other cities in Lee County include Opelika (the county seat), Phenix City (partially), Smiths Station, and Beauregard. These cities have municipal courts that handle local traffic citations but do not meet the population threshold for dedicated city pages.