RULE 6.600. FAILURE TO APPEAR OR PAY CIVIL PENALTY;
REINSTATEMENT OF DRIVER LICENSE

(a) Notice of Failure to Appear or Pay. If no mandatory
hearing is required and the defendant has been cited but fails to
pay the civil penalty or appear, the clerk must send the department
notice of such failure as required by section 318.15(1), Florida
Statutes.

(b) Appearance After Notice Sent. If the defendant appears
before the clerk after the notice was sent but before the department
suspends the driver license, the defendant may pay the civil penalty
together with any additional penalty required by section
318.18(8)(a), Florida Statutes, or may request a hearing. If the
defendant requests a hearing, the clerk shall set the case for
hearing upon payment of the costs specified in section 318.18(8)(a),
Florida Statutes.

(c) Reinstatement of License. If the defendant appears
before the clerk after the department suspends the driver license,
the defendant may pay the civil penalty together with any additional
penalty required by section 318(8)(a), Florida Statutes, or request a
hearing. A request for a hearing must be made as provided by
section 318.15(1)(c), Florida Statutes. If the official grants the
defendant’s request for a hearing and determines that the
defendant committed the infraction, the defendant shall be subject
to the penalty provisions of section 318.14(5), Florida Statutes.

Committee Notes
1988 Amendment. It was thought that a defendant who fails to appear
until after his or her driver license has been suspended (which could be years
later) should not be allowed to elect a hearing in those cases where the state
has been prejudiced by the passage of time.