Got that dreaded envelope in the mail? Seeing a notice for a red light ticket can ruin your day, but it’s not the end of the world. In Florida, you have choices, and understanding them can save you time, money, and points on your license. Taking a bdi course is often the smartest move, and a quality online traffic school makes it simple.
The first thing to know is that this “Notice of Violation” from a red light camera is not the same as a formal traffic citation an officer gives you. Right now, it doesn’t carry any points against your license. But you do have a decision to make, and a clock is ticking.
So, What Are Your Options?
Once you receive that notice, you have 30 days to respond before it becomes a more serious—and more expensive—Uniform Traffic Citation. Let’s look at your three main paths.
Imagine a driver, let’s call him Alex, gets a notice in the mail. The fine is $158. He could just pay it. Or, he could look at his other choices, especially since one of them guarantees no points hit his license, which is important for keeping his insurance bill from going up.
The image above shows what the camera is designed to catch: a car crossing the stop line after the light turns red. Seeing the proof helps, but it doesn’t change the fact that you need to act.
Why Do We Even Have These Cameras?
It’s easy to think of these cameras as just a way for the city to make money, but their main purpose is safety. According to the National Coalition for Safer Roads, cities that put up red light cameras saw a 21% drop in deadly crashes caused by people running red lights.
These are safety tools. The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) website has all the official details on how the program works in Florida.
Choosing the right path—paying the fine, fighting the ticket, or signing up for an online traffic school—is key to handling the violation and protecting your driving record.
To make it simple, I’ve broken down your choices into a table.
Your Three Options for a Florida Red Light Ticket
| Action | Outcome | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Pay the $158 Fine | No points are added to your license. The problem is solved quickly. | Drivers who want the fastest, simplest fix and aren’t worried about a traffic school option. |
| Complete a BDI Course | You pay a reduced fine and a small fee, but no points are added. | Most drivers, especially those who want to promise no points and keep their insurance from going up. |
| Contest the Ticket | You ask for a court date to challenge the ticket. You could win, or you could pay a higher fine and court costs if you lose. | Drivers who are sure they weren’t at fault (for example, you weren’t the one driving) and have proof. |
Taking a few minutes to understand these options can save you a lot of headache—and money.
So, you found a dreaded red light ticket in your mailbox. Before you panic, let’s break down what this actually means under Florida law. It can feel a little confusing, but the rules are easy once you know what you’re looking at.
The red light camera ticket system in Florida is part of a state law: The Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Program.
This program is explained in Florida Statute 316.0083. You can read the full law on the Florida Legislature website. This law lets cities and counties use cameras to catch traffic violations. It also sets the fine for a camera ticket at $158. The goal is to make roads safer without needing a police officer on every corner.
Notice of Violation vs. Uniform Traffic Citation
This is the most important part to understand. The first letter you get is not a normal ticket. There’s a big difference between the first notice and what it can become if you ignore it.
- Notice of Violation: This is the first letter you get. Think of it as a warning. At this point, it’s not a formal traffic ticket, and paying it won’t add any points to your driver’s license. You have a short time to deal with it.
- Uniform Traffic Citation: If you ignore the Notice of Violation, it gets more serious. The violation becomes a Uniform Traffic Citation. This is an official ticket that goes on your record, can add points to your license, and often comes with higher fines.
Basically, the first notice is your chance to handle the problem easily. For example, if you get a notice in Orlando and don’t respond in 30 days, the county will automatically issue that formal citation. That’s when you risk your insurance going up. The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) website has a great FAQ page that explains this.
Knowing these key differences is half the battle. For many Florida drivers, the simplest path forward is to pay the fine and enroll in a basic driver course florida to avoid any points on their record. But if you think the ticket was a mistake and want to fight it, you can find great tips in our guide on how to get a ticket dismissed.
Keep Points Off Your License with Traffic School
For most Florida drivers, the smartest move after getting a red light ticket is to choose to take a basic driver improvement course. Why? The biggest benefit is huge: successfully completing a Florida-approved traffic school course means zero points get added to your driving record. This is a massive win because it helps keep your car insurance company from raising your rates.
Honestly, the ease of online traffic school makes this choice a no-brainer. Think about it. You get a ticket, but your schedule is busy with work, kids, and other things. Instead of making time for a boring class, you can enroll in a florida traffic school online and finish the whole course from your couch, whenever you have a free moment.
Why Online Is the Easiest Choice
The whole process is built to be simple and fast. Getting registered takes just a few minutes. From there, you can work through the lessons—which are actually pretty interesting—and get your completion certificate right away. It takes all the stress out of the situation.
For many drivers, the peace of mind that comes from keeping their record clean is worth everything. Taking a driver safety course is the only sure way to get no points for that ticket.
Red light cameras are here to stay. In fact, their use is growing. The global market for these cameras is on track to hit $693 million by 2031, because governments want to improve road safety. You can read more about this in this market research report.
This makes knowing your options more important than ever. When you choose a basic driver traffic school florida, you’re taking back control and protecting your driving history. Check out how easy it is to enroll in our Florida online traffic school.
So, you’ve got a red light ticket and you’re trying to figure out which traffic school course is the right one for you. I get it—the options can feel like a lot when all you want to do is make the problem go away.
Let’s break down the choices so you can find the perfect fit. The good news is that every course we offer is fully approved by the state of Florida, so you know you’re meeting all the legal rules.
The Go-To Choice for Red Light Tickets
For most drivers dealing with a normal traffic ticket, like running a red light, the 4-Hour Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) course is exactly what you need. Think of it as your get-out-of-jail-free card for your driving record.
Taking this bdi driving course is a smart move. Why? Because it promises that no points will be added to your license for the violation. That’s huge, because it helps you avoid the insurance rate increase that often follows a ticket.
Taking a driver improvement course is about more than just checking a box. It’s an investment in keeping your driving record clean and your insurance rates down.
What If You Need Something Different?
While the BDI course is the most common path, sometimes life (or a judge) has other plans. That’s why we have a few other options for specific needs. You can see all our premier driver education courses on our site.
| Course Name | Who It’s For | Main Benefit for the Driver |
|---|---|---|
| 4-Hour Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) | Drivers with a non-criminal traffic ticket (like a red light violation). | Keeps points off your license, which stops your insurance rates from going up. This is the best way to protect your record for a small mistake. |
| Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) | First-time teenage drivers. | This is the key to freedom! Completing this course lets you apply for your learner’s permit and get on the road for the first time. |
| 8-Hour Intermediate Driver Improvement (IDI) | Drivers ordered by a judge to complete an 8-hour course, often for getting too many points. | Helps you meet a judge’s order so you can move towards getting your driving privileges back. It shows you’re serious about safe driving. |
| 12-Hour Advanced Driver Improvement (ADI) | Drivers with a suspended/revoked license or labeled as a Habitual Traffic Offender (HTO). | This is your path to getting back behind the wheel. It’s a required step for getting your license reinstated after serious issues. |
| Wireless Communications Device Safety Course | Drivers who got a ticket for using a handheld phone in a school or work zone. | This is an easy way to avoid points for a texting-while-driving ticket, keeping your record clean from this specific violation. |
No matter which path you need to take, our online courses are designed to be painless. You can log in whenever you want, work at your own speed, and get your completion certificate the moment you’re done.
Heads Up: Florida’s New “Super Speeder” Law
Every Florida driver needs to know about this major change to our state’s traffic laws. We’re not just talking about a standard red light ticket anymore. A new “Super Speeder” law is on the books, and it turns extreme speeding from a simple ticket into a crime. The punishment for reckless driving just got a lot more serious.
This law, which is CS/HB 351, is a direct response to the dangers of high-speed driving. Safety groups like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have shown for years that the faster you go, the higher the chance of a terrible crash. This law is Florida’s way of getting tough on dangerous behavior.
The Penalties Are Now Much Stricter
Starting July 1, 2025, the game completely changes. Under this new law, any driver caught going 50 mph or more over the posted speed limit—or driving at any speed over 100 mph—will face criminal charges, not just a traffic citation.
Let that sink in. Here’s what that looks like:
- First Offense: Up to 30 days in jail and a fine up to $500.
- Second Offense (within 5 years): Up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
This isn’t just a small fine. You can read the official bill and its language by checking out the Super Speeder law on the Florida Senate website.
Now more than ever, the skills you learn in a defensive driving school are vital. They don’t just help you avoid tickets; they help you avoid life-changing problems like these.
This new law turns super speeding from a traffic violation into a criminal act. It’s a clear signal that Florida is taking aggressive driving seriously, aiming to protect everyone on the road.
If you want to sharpen your driving awareness and stay safe, our driver education courses give you the tools you need. Our courses are fast, easy, and you get your certificate instantly.
Common Questions About Florida Red Light Tickets
Getting a red light ticket in the mail can be confusing. Let’s clear up some of the most common questions Florida drivers have so you can figure out the best way to handle it.
Will a Red Light Camera Ticket Add Points to My License?
This is the big one, and the answer is: not if you handle it correctly. When you first get the Notice of Violation from a red light camera, paying it won’t add any points to your license. Simple as that.
However, points become a real risk if you ignore that first notice. If you let it run out, it turns into a Uniform Traffic Citation with a higher fine. Paying that citation will add points. The only way to be 100% certain you won’t get points after it becomes a formal citation is to complete a florida approved traffic school course. It’s truly the safest bet for protecting your driving record.
How Much Time Do I Have to Handle My Ticket?
You’ve got 30 days from the issue date printed on the Notice of Violation. It’s really important to act within this time.
Missing that 30-day window is where the trouble starts. The fine goes up, and the notice becomes a formal citation that can put points on your license and cause a lot more hassle. Our online traffic school is the quickest way to get it resolved, since you can sign up and finish the course from your phone, tablet, or computer whenever you have time.
Is Online Traffic School a Long or Difficult Process?
Not at all. In fact, most people are surprised at how easy it is. Our 4 hour traffic school florida is designed to be painless. We break down the information into easy-to-understand sections, and you can log in and out as many times as you need to.
You can work on it during your lunch break, after the kids go to bed, or whenever it fits your schedule. Honestly, it’s the easiest way to put the ticket behind you. When you’re done, you get your certificate of completion instantly. Experience for yourself why drivers call us the best online traffic school. We offer the lowest price on florida traffic school with premier tools to solve your needs.
What if I Get Another Ticket After Taking a BDI Course?
That’s a smart question to ask. Florida law has some specific rules on this: you can take a bdi course (Basic Driver Improvement) to avoid points only once every 12 months. There’s also a lifetime limit of five times.
This rule really shows how important it is to take the lessons from a defensive driving school to heart. The goal isn’t just to get rid of a ticket, but to become a safer driver to avoid the next one. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) offers great resources on why this is so important for all drivers.
If you get another ticket within that 12-month period, you won’t have the choice to elect traffic school for it. However, you can always ask a judge to allow you taking the BDI course as court ordered. There are no limits in how many times a judge can give you an order to take a BDI course.
At BDISchool, we provide fast, easy, and state-approved solutions for your driver education needs. Our courses are built for your convenience, letting you protect your record, keep insurance rates low, and get your certificate instantly.
Ready to take care of that ticket? Register for your course today or explore all our driver education courses to see what’s right for you.
