https://www.mypinellasclerk.gov/Operation-Green-Light

🚦 Operation Green Light: Limited-Time Opportunity to Reinstate Your Driver’s License (Pinellas County)

If your driver’s license is suspended due to unpaid court fines or traffic tickets, Operation Green Light may offer a fast and cost-saving path to getting back on the road.

The Pinellas County Clerk of Court is hosting a special, limited-time event designed to help eligible individuals pay off outstanding balances and potentially reinstate their driver’s licenses —all while saving money on collection fees.

📍 Event Details

Location:
Pinellas County Justice Center
14250 49th Street North
Clearwater, FL 33762

Dates:
April 20 – April 24, 2026

Hours:

• Monday, Tuesday, Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
• Wednesday, Thursday: 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM

💰 What This Event Offers

During Operation Green Light, eligible participants can:

• Pay traffic tickets and court fines in full
• Receive up to 25% off collection fees
• In many cases, reinstate a suspended driver’s license

⚠️ Keep in mind: Additional reinstatement fees and late fees may still apply.

📝 Important Requirements

• Participation requires payment in full (no payment plans)
• Advance registration was required (April 6–10)
• Appointment slots are limited and scheduled in 15-minute increments

❌ Who May Not Qualify

You may be ineligible if:

• You previously participated in a Pinellas County Operation Green Light event
• Your license suspension is due to:
  • Child support delinquency
  • DUI-related offenses
  • Failure to complete a required driving course
  • Traffic-related felony
  • Habitual traffic offender designation

⚖️ What This Event Does Not Cover

Operation Green Light is strictly for resolving financial obligations. It will not:

• Reduce or waive court-imposed fines
• Recall warrants
• Terminate probation
• Modify charges or convictions
• Reinstate community service
• Address child-support-related suspensions

These issues require separate legal action.

💡 Should You Go?

This event is ideal if:

• Your license is suspended due to unpaid fines
• You are able to pay your balance in full
• You want to avoid additional collection costs

However, if your situation involves warrants, probation issues, or complex legal matters, you should speak with a defense attorney before taking action.

📞 Need Help Understanding Your Options?

If you’re unsure whether Operation Green Light is right for you, or if you need help resolving issues that this event doesn’t cover, legal guidance can make a significant difference.

📞 Pinellas Clerk’s Office: (727) 464-7000
📧clerkinfo@mypinellasclerk.gov

Reviewed by Michael P. Maddux, Esq. | Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer | Florida Super Lawyer for 16 Consecutive Years

Michael P. Maddux has been recognized as a Tampa Magazine Top Lawyer for multiple consecutive years, reflecting the respect of fellow attorneys and the strength of his professional reputation within the Tampa Bay legal community. Tampa Magazine’s annual Top Lawyers list is based on peer nominations and highlights attorneys who have demonstrated exceptional skill, integrity, and professionalism in their respective practice areas.

Tampa Magazine Top Lawyer Selections:
2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

This recognition is awarded to attorneys who are consistently trusted by their peers for their legal judgment and experience. Selection as a Tampa Magazine Top Lawyer is not based on advertising or popularity, but on the opinions of other attorneys who are familiar with the demands of legal practice and the standards required for effective advocacy.

Throughout the years of this recognition, Mr. Maddux has maintained a practice focused on criminal defense, civil rights litigation, and personal injury matters, representing clients in cases involving serious legal and personal consequences. His work requires thorough preparation, strategic decision-making, and courtroom experience, particularly in matters where individual rights, accountability, and meaningful outcomes are at stake.

For clients, recognition as a Tampa Magazine Top Lawyer provides additional confidence in the quality of representation they receive. It signals an attorney whose work is respected within the local legal community and whose experience has been earned through years of dedicated practice. Peer recognition of this kind reflects consistency, professionalism, and a commitment to serving clients with care and diligence.

Mr. Maddux’s repeated inclusion on the Tampa Magazine Top Lawyers list represents an ongoing standard rather than a single achievement. It reflects a continued dedication to ethical advocacy, careful case preparation, and client-focused representation across multiple areas of law.

Reviewed by Michael P. Maddux, Esq. | Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer | Florida Super Lawyer for 16 Consecutive Years

Beginning October 1, 2025, Florida drivers will face significantly harsher consequences if they flee or attempt to elude law enforcement during a traffic stop. House Bill 113 makes sweeping changes to Florida Statute § 316.1935, strengthening penalties and limiting judicial discretion in these cases.

Key Changes Under HB 113

1. Higher Offense Severity Levels
The law increases the severity ranking of fleeing and eluding offenses under Florida’s Criminal Punishment Code. As a result, these charges will be treated as more serious crimes, exposing defendants to longer prison sentences.

2. Sentencing Multiplier for Repeat Offenders
Defendants with a prior fleeing and eluding conviction will now face a mandatory 1.5× sentencing multiplier, which can add years to a potential prison sentence.

3. Restrictions on Leniency
HB 113 eliminates options that previously allowed some defendants to avoid permanent convictions. Courts are now prohibited from withholding, deferring, or suspending adjudication in fleeing and eluding cases.

4. Law Enforcement Vehicle Markings
The law revises requirements related to police vehicle markings, closing loopholes where defendants claimed they did not realize they were being stopped by an official law enforcement vehicle.

Starting in October 2025, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement in Florida will carry some of the toughest penalties in the nation. These changes reflect the state’s effort to deter high-speed pursuits and reduce risks to public safety.

If you or someone you know is charged under this law, it is critical to seek experienced legal representation immediately. Michael P. Maddux, P.A. is prepared to act quickly and decisively. The stakes are higher than ever, and the room for negotiation is far narrower.

Reviewed by Michael P. Maddux, Esq. | Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer | Florida Super Lawyer for 16 Consecutive Years

Several new Florida laws are bringing significant changes to criminal offenses involving motor vehicles, law enforcement encounters, and public safety. These updates expand law enforcement authority in certain situations and increase penalties for a range of offenses, making it more important than ever for drivers to understand their rights and responsibilities.

Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Law Enforcement (HB 113)

House Bill 113 changes the requirements for law enforcement vehicles involved in pursuits. Under the new law, officers are no longer required to display agency insignia on their vehicles in certain fleeing or eluding situations. The bill also increases the severity ranking for specific fleeing-related offenses under Florida’s Criminal Punishment Code, potentially leading to harsher sentences upon conviction.

Motor Vehicle Offenses and License Plate Violations (HB 253)

HB 253 increases penalties for several vehicle-related offenses. The law makes it a more serious crime to use certain vehicle lighting improperly and elevates penalties for altering, covering, or obscuring license plates. Knowingly altering or tampering with license plates, registration certificates, or validation stickers is now a second-degree misdemeanor. The law also criminalizes the buying, selling, or use of devices designed to conceal license plates.

Tampering with Electronic Monitoring Devices (HB 437)

This legislation revises penalties for tampering with electronic monitoring devices. It establishes specific penalties for individuals under 18, requires automatic revocation of pretrial release for those who tamper with monitoring devices while on release, and allows courts to issue new bonds under defined conditions.

Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Property Damage (HB 479)

HB 479 authorizes courts to order restitution when a driver leaves the scene of a crash involving damage to another person’s vehicle or property. A violation constitutes a second-degree misdemeanor, and courts may require convicted drivers to compensate affected property owners.

DUI, BUI, and Homicide Offenses (HB 687)

House Bill 687 increases penalties for DUI manslaughter, BUI manslaughter, and vehicular or vessel homicide when the offender has prior qualifying convictions. The law also requires individuals to be informed that refusing a breath or urine test can result in criminal charges. A first refusal is now a criminal offense and is ranked on Florida’s Criminal Punishment Code severity chart.

These legislative changes significantly raise the stakes for drivers and individuals facing criminal charges. At Michael P. Maddux, P.A., we closely monitor changes in Florida law to protect our clients’ rights and provide informed, aggressive defense when it matters most.