Traffic Crimes in Orange County, FL
In Orange County, FL, the most commonly prosecuted misdemeanor traffic crimes include:
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI): Operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
- Reckless Driving: Driving in a manner that shows a disregard for the safety of people or property.
- Driving with a Suspended or Revoked License: Operating a vehicle while one’s driver’s license is suspended or revoked, often due to prior traffic violations or DUIs.
- Leaving the Scene of an Accident (Hit and Run): Failing to remain at the scene of a crash involving property damage, injury, or death.
- Racing on Highways: Participating in unauthorized speed competitions on public roads, which is illegal and can lead to a driver license suspension or the seizure of a vehicle for forfeiture.
The most commonly prosecuted felony traffic crimes in Orange County, FL, include:
- Vehicular Homicide: Causing the death of another person due to negligent driving, which can lead to serious charges and penalties;
- DUI Manslaughter: Causing or contributing to the death of another person while under the influence of alcoholic beverages, or chemical or controlled substances; and
- Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Law Enforcement: Failing to stop for a police officer when ordered or attempting to escape from law enforcement.
Attorneys for Traffic Crimes in Orange County, FL
If you were arrested for a traffic crime in Orlando or the surrounding areas in Orange County, FL, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at Sammis Law Firm.
We can represent you at every stage of the case, from the first appearance in court through trial.
Call for a confidential consultation to discuss the charges pending against you, the typical penalties, and the best defenses to fight for an outright dismissal.
Our offices are conveniently located at 1950 Lee Road, Suite 208, Winter Park, Florida 32789.
Call 407-598-9011.
Criminal Traffic Crimes Prosecuted in Orange County, FL
The Ninth Judicial Circuit established the Criminal Traffic Written Plea Bureau in the Orange County Clerk of Court’s Office to handle certain criminal traffic offenses without requiring the accused to appear in court.
The Administrative Order provides that the Bureau may resolve specified traffic violations without a court appearance, whether the person was arrested or issued a citation.
The misdemeanor traffic crimes specifically listed in the Administrative Order include:
- F.S. 320.02(4) Failure to change address
- F.S. 320.02(1) No motor vehicle registration F.S. 320.061
- Unlawful alternation of tag
- F.S. 320.07(3)(c) Expired tag more than 6 months
- F.S. 320.131(3) Expired temporary tag
- F.S. 320.261 Attaching tag not assigned
- F.S. 320.38 Non-resident registration required
- F.S. 322.031 Non-resident-driver’s license required
- F.S. 322.03(4) No motorcycle license
- F.S. 322.03(5) Expired driver’s license F
- .S. 322.16(1)(a) Violation of driver’s license restriction (corrective lenses)
- F.S. 322.03(1) No valid driver’s license
- F.S. 324.201(1) Return of driver’s license to department/possession of suspended driver’s license
The written-plea procedure does not apply in every situation. The Administrative Order provides that these citations must not involve an accident, a commercial driver’s license, or other criminal charges.
Under the administrative order, a person’s driving privilege or license cannot be suspended, cancelled, or revoked for the procedure to apply.
For qualifying offenses, the Clerk’s Office may advise the accused that he or she can pay the fine and court costs instead of appearing before the court.
Under the Administrative Order, this option results in a withhold of adjudication, unless the accused provides documentary proof by the end of the scheduled return date showing that the alleged violation has been corrected.
One of the most important features of the Orange County procedure is that several listed offenses can be dismissed when the accused produces the required documentation.
The Administrative Order creates a Category A disposition for a person who produces the required document, such as a registration, tag, or driver’s license. For several of the listed offenses, the Category A disposition is specifically identified as “Dismissal.”
This is an important reason not to automatically pay a criminal traffic charge without first determining whether the underlying problem can be corrected and whether the charge can be dismissed.
Additional Resources
Traffic Section of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office – Visit the website of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office to learn more about the Traffic Section, the Motors Unit, and the Specialized Traffic Unit. The Motor Unit has five squads covering Orange County and 19 sworn members who cross-train with it. In 2023, the Motor Unit conducted more than 18,479 traffic stops and issued 56,323 Uniformed Traffic Citations (UTC). The Specialized Traffic Unit was responsible for 1,410 DUI arrests.
This article was last updated on Wednesday, August 25, 2026.