Basic Driver Improvement, or Florida traffic school, is a 4-hour defensive driving course that a driver can elect (volunteer) to attend after receiving a Florida traffic ticket (moving violation). The benefits of the course are:
- No points on driving record – Points are not assessed. A notation is placed on the driving record that adjudication was witheld for the offense.
- Prevents auto insurance from increasing – Specifically, Florida law states that if a driver completes a BDI course, his or her auto insurance company cannot raise the policy rate, cancel the policy or non-renew it based on the offense unless the driver was found at fault in a crash (§626.9541, F.S.).
- Keeps "Safe Driver" notation on driver license – This applies if the driver already had a safe driver notation before receiving the ticket.
Attendance Restrictions
If you are a CDL holder or you were cited for speeding more than 30 MPH over the limit, you may not elect to attend traffic school. Also, you may not elect if you have already elected for a previous ticket within the past 12 months, or if you have elected five times within your lifetime.
Notifying the Court of Traffic School Election
If you wish to go to traffic school for a Florida ticket, you must notify the court. Usually this means sending in the affidavit form that was included with the ticket. Some counties also allow a driver to notify them in person, over the phone, online, or by fax. You should contact the clerk of the court for the county in which you were ticketed to learn their procedures for traffic school election.
Reporting Your Completion to the Court
If you elect to attend traffic school for a Florida ticket, you are required to report your completion of the course to the clerk of the court for the county in which you were ticketed. You will need to follow the court's instructions for reporting your completion.