Traffic Offense in Sumter County, Florida
853 cases (2025) · Sumter County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, traffic offense defendants in Sumter County faced markedly different outcomes than the state. Guilty findings appeared in 76.4% of cases, with withheld adjudication in 23.1%—below the statewide 30.8%. The county recorded zero dismissals and zero acquittals versus a statewide dismissal rate of 4.0%. Diversion was nearly nonexistent at 0.5%, far below the state average of 6.4%, indicating the local State Attorney pursues prosecution to adjudication rather than alternative resolution.
Sentences were more severe. Defendants averaged 168 days incarceration and median 45 days, with 23.7% serving jail time. Probation averaged 309.8 days. Representation showed 15.1% with private counsel and 20.6% with public defenders, suggesting mixed representation compared to counties with near-universal public defense.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Traffic Offense charge in Sumter County makes it in front of a judge. Of 1,268 prosecutor decisions on Traffic Offense charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 9.9% — in line with 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 — 76.4% of 853 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 853 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 |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 567 | 2.1 months |
| State Prison Facility | 48 | 3.2 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Traffic Offense sentencing in Sumter County.
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 | 520 | 77.3% | 0.0% |
| Black | 156 | 79.5% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,096 | 67.9% | 0.0% | 5.3 months |
| 2024 | 1,132 | 59.0% | 0.0% | 4.0 months |
| 2025 | 853 | 76.4% | 0.0% | 5.6 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 | 2,383 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 523 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 174 |
| Misdemeanor | Not Applicable | 1 |
Related Charges in Sumter County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | 1,098 | 62.6% | 0.3% |
| Battery | 341 | 66.9% | 1.5% |
| Other | 263 | 84.4% | 0.4% |
| Larceny / Theft | 299 | 75.6% | 0.3% |
| Resisting Officer | 143 | 81.8% | 0.0% |
| DUI | 154 | 99.4% | 0.0% |
| Fraud | 122 | 74.6% | 0.0% |
| Drug Sale | 86 | 97.7% | 0.0% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Traffic Offense in Sumter County?
The guilty rate is 76.4% based on 853 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Traffic Offense in Sumter County?
Adjudication is withheld in 23.1% 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 Sumter County?
The average sentence is 5.6 months, with an average fine of $197 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
20.6% of defendants use a public defender, while 15.1% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Traffic Offense in Sumter County, Florida (2025). Based on 853 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/traffic-offense/sumter
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Sumter 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 · 853 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com