Traffic Court

Traffic Division

Our office is responsible for processing traffic citations that have been issued by an Alabama State Trooper, Cleburne County Sheriff's Department, and Heflin Police Department. Your court date and time are listed on your ticket. You will receive no further notice. To obtain the amount of your *fine and costs you may contact the Clerk of Court at 256-463-2651. If you wish to avoid a court appearance you make enter a plea of guilty by sending your payment by Cashier’s Check or Money Order (NO PERSONAL CHECKS ACCEPTED) to:

Warren Sarrell, Circuit Clerk
120 Vickery St Room 202
Heflin, Alabama 36264

*Certain citations require a court appearance and cannot be paid prior to court.

FOR QUESTIONS OR PAYMENTS PLEASE CONTACT THE ALABAMA TRAFFIC SAFETY CENTER OR CALL TOLL FREE (866) 954-9399. Defendants can also email questions to cleburnetraffic@alacourt.gov. TICKETS MAY BE PAID BY CREDIT CARD BY CALLING (877) 252-7294 or visiting www.alapay.com. PAYMENTS BY CREDIT CARD MUST BE PAID PRIOR TO THE COURT DATE PRINTED ON YOUR TICKET.

If you wish to plead not guilty you are required to come to court on the assigned court date & time on your ticket. Court dates can only be moved in extreme emergencies by order of the Judge assigned to your case.

If you fail to pay or show up on your court date a Failure to Appear Warrant may be issued for your arrest and your driver’s license may be suspended by the Department of Public Safety. This will result in increased cost incurred by you.

Helpful Information

Payment information: We DO NOT ACCEPT PERSONAL CHECKS! We accept payments by Cashier’s Check or Money Order in person or by mail made payable to Circuit Clerk. Please include your citation number and name on your payment. If you would like a receipt please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope with your payment. When paying in person by CASH please try to bring correct change. We can accept credit card payments made in person with proof of ID. All payments should be made prior to your court date.

Court Day: Should you be required to come to Court or want to come and request a trial you should arrive promptly on your day of court at your assigned time and remain seated in the courtroom until your name is called. Please bring all relevant information with you such as your proof of insurance, driver’s license, etc.

Driving School: Must be requested at https://traffic.alacourt.gov. If Judge grants Driving School, the Defendant can visit Home - Alabama Safe Driver or WWW.ETADATADIRECT.COM/DRIVE to complete the online school. Defendants can attend another online driving school or attend an in person driving school. Once driving school has been completed, the Defendant must submit the completion certificate to the Court by email to cleburnetraffic@alacourt.gov.

Equipment Failure: All failures should be corrected prior to your court date and signed off by any active law enforcement officer and uploaded to https://traffic.alacourt.gov before your court date.

Driver’s License Citations: Expired, Suspended or Revoked – ALL DRIVER’S LICENSE TICKETS REQUIRE A COURT APPEARANCE BEFORE THE JUDGE. If you have corrected the citation please bring proof of such to court on your assigned court date & time.

If you want to plead guilty and need payment arrangements, you must appear in court on your court date to let the judge set your payment arrangements.

A traffic citation has been issued for you to appear before the Cleburne County District Court. If you fail to pay or otherwise dispose of your case prior to the court date and fail to appear on your court date, a warrant may be issued for your arrest. Additionally, your driver’s license may be suspended by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the fine may be increased, and any bond posted may be forfeited.

Tickets listed in the chart below may be paid by entering a guilty plea without a required court appearance. If you wish to avoid a court appearance and enter a plea of guilty, sign the Defendant’s plea of guilty on the back of your copy of the ticket and attach your money order or cashier’s check for the amount of fine and costs indicated and mail it to:

Cleburne County Courthouse
120 Vickery Street, Room 202
Heflin, AL 36264

You may also pay online at: Alapay.com

NO PERSONAL CHECKS. Personal checks will be returned causing a delay.

For questions or payment please contact the Alabama Traffic Service Center at traffic.alacourt.gov or by calling toll free (866) 954-9399. Cases may be paid on or before your court date with a credit or debit card by calling (877) 252-7294 or by accessing the following website: Alapay.com.

Processing of No-Insurance Tickets

THE DEFENDANT IS NOT REQUIRED TO APPEAR IN COURT IF THE DEFENDANT HAS PROOF OF INSURANCE BY THE COURT DATE ON THE VEHICLE DRIVEN AT THE TIME OF THE TICKET. MONTH TO MONTH POLICIES ARE NOT ACCEPTED.

For an out-of court settlement, defendant may provide proof, in person or by mail, before the court date and the case will be dismissed. Proof provided 30 days after the court date will result in the ticket being dismissed upon payment of court cost. Proof cannot be provided after 6 months of the court date; the ticket must be paid in full.

The same processing of no insurance tickets applies to no driver's license, expired driver's license, driver's license not in possession, improper tint, expired tag, equipment repairs and no medical card.

HELPFUL INFORMATION:
To avoid further court appearances, Defendant should bring to court all relevant documents at the first court appearance. For example, if the Defendant did not have insurance at the time the ticket was written, but has obtained insurance, proof of the new insurance may result in a lower fine. Also, if the Defendant had insurance coverage on another vehicle and the vehicle driven at the time of citation was newly purchased, the Defendant may bring proof of insurance on the other vehicle, proof of purchase of the newly purchased vehicle described in the ticket and a statement from the insurance provider that the newly purchased vehicle was covered at the time of citation, although the Defendant had not received the insurance card.

Tickets which may be paid without a court appearance.

Offenses Fines and Costs
Driving on the wrong side of the road $271.00
Failure to provide proof of insurance $301.00
Failure to yield right of way $271.00
Following too closely $271.00
Improper backing $271.00
Improper brakes $271.00
Improper lights $271.00
Improper passing $271.00
Improper signal $271.00
Improper tag $271.00
Improper tires $271.00
Improper turn $271.00
No child restraint $351.00
No seat belt $51.00
Operating a motor vehicle without a driver's license $326.00
Running Red Light or Stop Sign $271.00
Speeding (less than 25 mph over limit) $271.00
Speeding (more than 25 mph over limit) $291.00

NOTE: FINE AND COURT COSTS MAY BE GREATER IF NOT PAID BEFORE THE COURT DATE.

Please note that traffic violations not listed in the chart above cannot be paid without court appearance.

Defensive Driving School Options

Driving school may be permitted at the judge's discretion. Defendant must submit request through https://traffic.alacourt.gov.