Traffic Offense in Hillsborough County, Florida
12,131 cases (2025) · Hillsborough County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Hillsborough County's 12,179 traffic offense cases showed a guilty rate of 50.5% and dismissal rate of 9%—double the statewide 4% average. The diversion rate of 11.5% also exceeded statewide norms, indicating Tampa-area courts channeled substantial cases into pre-trial programs. As Florida's second-largest county, Hillsborough's Thirteenth Judicial Circuit patterns reflect higher case volume and prosecution balanced between conviction, dismissal, and diversion.
Jail affected only 11.8% of defendants, lower than most counties. Private attorneys represented 91.7% of cases—the highest statewide—indicating an affluent caseload. Fines averaged $282. This combination of higher dismissals, high private representation, and low jail rates suggests a more defense-favorable environment linked to defendant income and counsel quality.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Traffic Offense charge in Hillsborough County makes it in front of a judge. Of 46,281 prosecutor decisions on Traffic Offense charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 2.7% — below the 10.3% statewide rate. These decisions happen early in a case, before trial.
Source: Florida Department of Law Enforcement, State Attorney case data (2023-2025). Rates are per charge, not per defendant — a dropped charge often reflects a plea agreement on another charge in the same case, not the case going away. Percentages are of charges receiving a prosecution decision; transfers between courts are excluded. Court outcome data on this page is a separate dataset covering cases that reached disposition. Statewide charging patterns: The Florida Prosecution Report.
Outcome Breakdown (2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 50.7% of 12,131 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 12,131 cases · 2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Sentencing Breakdown (2025)
Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted (2025)
Confinement-type detail below is computed across all available years (2023-2025).
| Confinement Type | Count | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 3,619 | 1.8 months |
| State Prison Facility | 128 | 3.0 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Traffic Offense sentencing in Hillsborough County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Traffic Offense in Hillsborough County?
The guilty rate is 50.7% based on 12,131 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Traffic Offense in Hillsborough County?
Adjudication is withheld in 28.2% of cases (2025). This is a Florida-specific outcome where the court finds guilt but does not formally convict, allowing the defendant to avoid a conviction record under FL Statute 948.01.
What is the average sentence for Traffic Offense in Hillsborough County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 3.4 months, with an average fine of $286 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
7.5% of defendants use a public defender, while 92.5% retain private counsel (2025).
Counsel Analysis (2025)
Demographics (2025)
Demographic data reflects systemic patterns in the criminal justice system and should not be used to draw conclusions about any racial or ethnic group. Disparities may reflect differences in policing, prosecution, and socioeconomic factors rather than actual crime rates.
| Race | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 7,153 | 49.0% | 7.1% |
| Black | 4,030 | 57.6% | 12.9% |
| Asian | 106 | 25.5% | 15.1% |
| Not Available | 16 | 56.2% | 12.5% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 14 | 42.9% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 11,659 | 46.6% | 7.0% | 2.4 months |
| 2024 | 12,819 | 47.2% | 7.6% | 2.8 months |
| 2025 | 12,131 | 50.7% | 9.1% | 3.4 months |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 28,995 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 6,827 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 787 |
Related Charges in Hillsborough County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | 6,203 | 72.4% | 1.9% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,598 | 68.8% | 2.6% |
| Sex Offense | 4,442 | 85.7% | 1.9% |
| Trespassing | 2,769 | 81.1% | 8.6% |
| Battery | 3,194 | 50.4% | 3.3% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,875 | 69.5% | 3.6% |
| Other | 2,542 | 74.3% | 1.9% |
| DUI | 1,742 | 88.8% | 1.1% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Traffic Offense in Hillsborough County, Florida (2025). Based on 12,131 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/traffic-offense/hillsborough
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Hillsborough County. "Guilty" includes all cases where the defendant was found guilty. "Adjudication withheld" is a Florida-specific disposition where guilt is found but the court withholds formal adjudication under FL Statute 948.01. "Dismissed" includes all cases dismissed by the court or prosecution.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 12,131 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com