The Plantation City Court Docket is a public list of every case filed, scheduled, or decided in the West Regional Courthouse that serves the city of Plantation, Florida. Each entry shows the case number, party names, charges or claims, hearing dates, and the current status of the matter.
The docket runs through the Broward County Clerk of Courts under the 17th Judicial Circuit, and any person can review the records online, by phone, or in person at the courthouse on North Pine Island Road.
What the Plantation City Court Docket Covers
The Plantation City Court Docket holds records for criminal misdemeanor cases, civil claims up to the county court limit, traffic citations, county ordinance violations, and code enforcement actions. It also shows bond hearings, arraignments, pretrial conferences, plea hearings, motion dates, and trial calendars. The clerk updates entries the same business day a judge signs an order or a party files a new paper.
Each case on the docket carries a unique 20-character number that begins with a two-letter county code, a two-digit year, a case-type letter, and a six-digit sequence. People use this number to pull the complete history of filings, fees, and rulings. The number stays with the case from the first filing through the final judgment, even if the case moves to a different division.
Broward County Clerk Runs the Plantation City Court Docket
Plantation sits in the western part of Broward County, and the West Regional Courthouse at 100 North Pine Island Road, Plantation, FL 33324 handles most filings. Phone (954) 831-2339 connects callers to the clerk’s office during business hours, which run Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern. The Central Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale at 201 SE 6th Street processes records that require the main office.
The clerk’s official website at browardclerk.org acts as the main hub for the Plantation City Court Docket. From the homepage, users click on Case Search to reach the public portal, file new documents through the E-Filing system, request certified copies, and pay outstanding fees.
How to Search the Plantation City Court Docket Online
Two free search systems on the Broward clerk site let people look up the Plantation City Court Docket. The first tool, called Case Search, allows a name-based lookup. Type the last name of any party and the first name to narrow the list. Results show the case number, type, filing date, and current status. A click on the case number opens the full docket sheet.
The second tool, the Web Search portal, offers a different layout. It accepts partial name matches, business name searches, and date-range filters. The system indexes criminal, civil, traffic, and family cases. Both tools run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with no fee for the basic look-up.
For statewide coverage, the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com tracks filings from all 67 counties. The ACIS portal at acis.flcourts.gov handles appellate docket searches.
Plantation City Court Docket Search by Case Number
Searching the Plantation City Court Docket by case number gives the fastest, most exact result. Enter the full 20-character number in the search box labeled Case Number on the clerk portal. The screen returns a single case file with the complete docket sheet, party list, hearing history, and the financial summary of fees paid or owed.
People who know the number but not the year can drop the year digits. The system tries to match the rest. A wildcard search with an asterisk pulls every case that matches the leading characters. This method works well for lawyers tracking a series of related cases filed in the same month.
Plantation City Court Criminal Docket
The Plantation City Court criminal docket holds all misdemeanor charges filed inside city limits. Common entries include petty theft, simple battery, possession of small amounts of marijuana, resisting an officer without violence, and criminal mischief. Felony charges also appear at the start, but they transfer to circuit court within 21 days of arrest. The criminal docket shows arrest dates, bond amounts, arraignment dates, and plea or trial outcomes.
Defense attorneys check this docket daily to track new filings, bond reductions, and discovery deadlines. Victims use the same docket to confirm a defendant appeared in court and to read the terms of a no-contact order.
Plantation City Court Civil Docket
Civil cases on the Plantation City Court Docket cover disputes where the amount in controversy stays below $50,000. Examples include small claims for unpaid rent, contract disagreements, property damage, and personal injury claims filed at the county level. Each civil case shows the plaintiff, the defendant, the cause of action, the amount claimed, and the date of the next hearing.
Civil dockets also include landlord eviction filings, which move fast. The clerk marks the docket entry for the summons and the writ of possession. Plaintiffs in small claims actions pay a $50 filing fee for claims up to $2,500 and $175 for claims up to $8,000.
Plantation City Court Traffic Docket
Plantation police officers issue traffic citations that flow directly into the traffic docket of the Plantation City Court. The clerk lists each citation with the driver’s name, the citation number, the violation code, the fine amount, and the court date. Drivers can pay the fine online, attend traffic school if eligible, or contest the ticket in a bench trial before a county judge.
Common entries on the traffic docket include speeding, running a red light, careless driving, driving with a suspended license, and failure to maintain insurance. A failure to appear on a traffic case triggers a driver’s license suspension through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Plantation City Court Arraignment Docket
The arraignment docket lists every defendant who must enter a formal plea. The clerk schedules arraignments in bulk sessions on weekday mornings. A typical arraignment docket shows 30 to 60 names, each linked to a single case number. Defendants who fail to appear on the arraignment date receive a bench warrant, and the docket updates with the warrant entry within 24 hours.
At an arraignment, the judge reads the charges, confirms the defendant has a lawyer or qualifies for a public defender, and sets future dates for pretrial motions, plea, or trial.
Plantation City Court Hearing Docket
The hearing docket covers short proceedings that do not qualify as trials. Examples include bond hearings, motion to suppress hearings, restitution hearings, violation of probation hearings, and sentence review hearings. Each entry lists the case number, the moving party, the type of motion, the scheduled time, and the courtroom number.
Many hearings last fewer than 15 minutes. The clerk marks the docket with the ruling at the end of the hearing, which the public can read on the case detail page.
Plantation City Court Calendar Docket and Schedule
The calendar docket shows the date and time for every future event on every active case. Users view the calendar in three ways. The first is the daily docket, which lists all proceedings on a single day. The second is the weekly schedule, which groups cases by courtroom. The third is the personal calendar, where a user can pull a saved list of case numbers to track only the cases that matter to them.
The clerk refreshes the calendar at midnight each business day. Holiday closures and judge training days appear on the calendar with no cases assigned.
Plantation City Court Daily Docket
The daily docket is the snapshot of what happens in court on a given day. It appears on the clerk website the evening before. The layout shows the start time, case number, parties, charge or claim, and the assigned courtroom. Journalists, bond agents, and family members check the daily docket to plan their court visits.
Each daily docket is searchable by courtroom, judge, attorney bar number, or case type. A printed copy of the daily docket is available at the courthouse lobby information desk each morning.
Plantation City Court Docket Status
Every case on the Plantation City Court Docket carries a status code. The most common codes include Active, Pending Arraignment, Pretrial, Plea Entered, Trial Set, Continued, Dismissed, Adjudicated Withheld, and Closed. The status updates each time a clerk enters a new filing or a judge signs a new order.
Status changes can affect the right to appeal, the right to a speedy trial, and the right to receive a public defender. A case marked Closed for more than 30 days still appears on the docket for two years before the archive division moves the file to long-term storage.
Plantation City Court Public Docket Access
Florida public records law under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes keeps the Plantation City Court Docket open to everyone. Any person can view, copy, or request certified copies of docket entries without giving a reason. The clerk cannot withhold a record because the requester lives outside Florida or because the requester is not a party to the case.
Sealed records, expunged records, juvenile records, adoption records, and mental health records stay closed to the general public. Social Security numbers and bank account details get redacted from every public document under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420.
Plantation City Court Municipal Docket
Plantation does not operate a separate municipal court. The city uses the county court system, which means the Plantation City Court Docket runs through the Broward County clerk instead of a city clerk. This setup keeps the docket unified with the rest of Broward County, so Plantation residents and attorneys use the same search tools for all 17th Judicial Circuit cases.
Code enforcement actions filed by the city of Plantation appear on the same docket as criminal traffic cases. The city code enforcement officer serves as the petitioner, and the property owner or business owner serves as the respondent.
Plantation City Court Code Enforcement Docket
The code enforcement docket holds cases filed by Plantation code officers for violations of city ordinances. Common entries include overgrown lawns, illegal signs, unpermitted construction, junk vehicles, and short-term rental violations. The code officer files a Notice of Violation first, and the case appears on the docket only if the property owner does not fix the issue within the cure period.
Code enforcement hearings run before a special magistrate, not a judge. The magistrate can impose fines up to $250 per day for repeat violations. The fine amount and payment status appear on the public docket within 48 hours of the hearing.
Plantation City Court Pretrial Docket
The pretrial docket lists every case set for a pretrial conference. The judge uses the conference to push for a plea deal, set the trial date, and resolve open motions. Defense lawyers bring their clients, the prosecutor brings the plea offer, and the clerk marks the outcome on the docket in real time.
Cases that resolve at pretrial receive a plea entry on the docket the same day. Cases that do not resolve move to the trial docket with a date certain within 90 to 175 days of arrest, depending on the charge.
Plantation City Court Bond Docket
The bond docket is a special sub-list of criminal cases. It shows the defendant, the original bond amount, any bond modification, the bondsman of record, and the current bond status. Bond hearings run twice a day at the West Regional Courthouse, and the clerk updates the docket after each ruling.
Standard bond amounts follow the Broward County bond schedule. A first-degree misdemeanor carries a $500 bond, a second-degree misdemeanor carries a $1,000 bond, and a third-degree felony carries a $5,000 bond. The magistrate can raise or lower these amounts based on the facts of the case.
Plantation City Court DUI Docket
Plantation police arrest drivers for DUI under Florida Statute 316.193, and those cases appear on the Plantation City Court criminal docket. First-time DUIs stay at the county court level. Repeat DUIs and DUIs that cause injury move to circuit court. The DUI docket entries show the arrest date, breath or blood test results, the refusal flag, and the suspension of the driver’s license.
A first-time DUI carries a fine of $500 to $1,000, up to six months in jail, a six-month license revocation, and 50 hours of community service. The clerk posts the sentence on the docket after the judge signs the order.
Plantation City Court Citation Docket
The citation docket covers non-criminal infractions written by code officers and police officers. Examples include parking tickets, animal control citations, and city ordinance infractions. The citation shows the violation, the fine, the due date, and the option to contest in writing or in person.
Paying a citation closes the case. Failing to pay or appear places a hold on the case, which the clerk marks on the docket. The hold stops a driver from renewing a license or a property owner from selling a home until the citation clears.
Plantation City Court Violation Docket
The violation docket tracks probation violations, pretrial diversion violations, and any breach of a court order. A violation of probation case appears with a warrant flag the moment the clerk enters the affidavit. The judge sets a violation hearing within 30 days of the arrest on the warrant.
The docket shows the original sentence, the alleged violation, the modification request from the probation officer, and the judge’s ruling. Violation cases can add jail time, extend probation, or impose new conditions such as drug testing or community service.
Plantation City Court Motion Docket
The motion docket lists every written motion filed in a case. Common entries include motion to suppress evidence, motion to dismiss, motion to continue, motion in limine, and motion to reduce bond. The clerk stamps the motion with a hearing date and posts it on the docket for public view.
Each motion carries a response deadline of 10 to 20 days. The opposing party files a written response, which the clerk adds to the docket. The judge reads the motion and the response before the hearing.
Plantation City Court Plea Docket
The plea docket lists cases set for a change of plea or a plea and sentencing hearing. The defendant enters a guilty, no contest, or Alford plea, and the judge accepts or rejects the plea on the record. The clerk then enters the plea, the sentence, the fine, the costs, and the probation terms on the docket.
A written plea agreement is filed as part of the case file and shows up on the docket as a separate entry. The public can read the agreement unless the judge seals it.
Plantation City Court First Appearance Docket
The first appearance docket is the list of defendants brought before a judge within 24 hours of arrest. The judge reviews the arrest affidavit, sets the initial bond, appoints a public defender if needed, and orders a no-contact order when the case involves a victim. The clerk records the bond amount, the conditions of release, and the next court date.
First appearances run seven days a week at the Main Jail in Fort Lauderdale, and the docket updates every 30 minutes during the morning session.
Plantation City Court Misdemeanor Docket
The misdemeanor docket holds all second-degree and first-degree misdemeanor cases filed in Plantation. These cases stay at the county court for the entire life of the case. The maximum penalty for a first-degree misdemeanor is one year in county jail and a $1,000 fine. The docket shows the charging document, the plea, and the sentence for every case.
Common misdemeanor entries on the Plantation City Court Docket include simple battery, petit theft, possession of cannabis under 20 grams, disorderly conduct, and criminal mischief under $200.
Plantation City Court Trial Docket
The trial docket lists bench trials and jury trials set for a specific date. Bench trials in county court last 30 minutes to two hours. Jury trials last one to three days. The clerk marks the trial docket with a final pretrial date 7 to 14 days before trial and a calendar call two days before trial.
A case that settles on the morning of trial receives a plea entry on the docket. A case that goes to verdict receives a verdict entry and a judgment entry, both stamped the same day.
Plantation City Court Upcoming and Current Docket
The upcoming docket projects the next 30 to 60 days of court activity. The current docket shows the activity for the active week. The clerk refreshes both lists at midnight each business day. Attorneys use the upcoming docket to prepare for hearings, and the public uses the current docket to follow cases in real time.
The clerk also publishes a printed list of next week’s cases outside the courtroom each Friday afternoon. The printed list matches the online list in every detail.
Costs and Fees for Plantation City Court Docket Records
The clerk charges a standard fee schedule for records from the Plantation City Court Docket. A plain copy costs $1.00 per page. A certification adds $2.00 per document. An electronic certified document costs $8.00 each and never expires. A case search costs $2.00 per case per year searched. Documents over 100 pages must be requested in person at the West Regional Courthouse. Email and fax records requests take up to two weeks to process.
Visiting the West Regional Courthouse in Person
People who want to see the Plantation City Court Docket in person can walk into the clerk’s office at the West Regional Courthouse, 100 North Pine Island Road, Plantation, FL 33324. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern. Public terminals in the lobby let visitors search the docket and print records for $0.25 per page. A self-service copier accepts quarters and dollar bills.
Visitors must pass through a security checkpoint. Bags, food, drinks, and recording devices are not allowed in the courthouse. The clerk’s office accepts cash, money order, and credit card for fees over $2.50.
Contact Information for Plantation City Court Docket
- Website: browardclerk.org
- Phone: (954) 831-2339
- Address: West Regional Courthouse, 100 N Pine Island Rd, Plantation, FL 33324
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern
- Records Email: Redactarchives@browardclerk.org
- Records Fax: (954) 831-5550
- Attorney Line: (954) 831-5600
- Florida E-Filing Portal: myflcourtaccess.com
- Florida ACIS Portal: acis.flcourts.gov
Plantation City Court Docket FAQ
People who need to look up a case or check a court date in Plantation, Florida often have the same set of practical questions. The answers below cover the most common points about how the Plantation City Court Docket works, what it costs, and what to do when a record is missing or sealed. Each answer uses the same tools and the same clerk office that residents use every day in Broward County.
How Do I Search the Plantation City Court Docket for Free
You can search the Plantation City Court Docket for free on the Broward County Clerk website at browardclerk.org. Click on Case Search from the homepage. Type the last name of any party or the full case number. The result page shows the case type, the filing date, the next court event, and the current status. No account or login is needed for the basic search. The portal runs 24 hours a day. You can also use the E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com to view case events across all of Florida, and the ACIS portal at acis.flcourts.gov for appellate cases. These public tools do not charge a fee for a basic docket view, and you can print the screen or save it as a PDF at no cost.
What Case Types Appear on the Plantation City Court Docket
The Plantation City Court Docket lists all misdemeanor criminal cases, county civil cases up to $50,000, traffic citations, county and city ordinance violations, code enforcement actions, and small claims matters. The clerk also enters bond hearings, arraignments, pretrial conferences, plea hearings, and trials. Civil cases include evictions, contract disputes, and personal injury claims at the county level. Criminal cases include simple battery, petit theft, possession of small amounts of cannabis, disorderly conduct, and DUI first offenses. Felony charges appear briefly before the docket transfers them to circuit court. Sealed cases, expunged records, juvenile matters, adoption files, and mental health records do not appear on the public docket.
How Long Does It Take for a New Filing to Show on the Plantation City Court Docket
New filings appear on the Plantation City Court Docket the same business day the clerk scans the document. A criminal case filed in the morning usually shows up on the docket by 2:00 PM the same day. A civil case filed in the afternoon appears the next business morning. Bond entries and warrant entries post within minutes of the judge signing the order. Records requests sent by email or fax take up to two weeks to process because a clerk must pull the file, redact sensitive data, scan the result, and bill the requester. Walk-in requests at the West Regional Courthouse finish the same day in most cases.
Can I Get a Certified Copy of a Plantation City Court Docket Entry
Yes, you can order a certified copy of a Plantation City Court Docket entry at the clerk’s office. Walk into the West Regional Courthouse at 100 North Pine Island Road, Plantation, FL 33324, and ask the clerk for a certified copy. Bring the case number, the year, and a photo ID. The cost is $8.00 for an electronic certified document, which never expires, or $1.00 per page plus a $2.00 certification fee for a paper certified copy. You can also mail a written request to the Broward County Clerk Records Department with a check and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Online requests for certified copies run through the clerk’s certified records portal for an extra convenience fee.
What Happens if I Miss My Court Date on the Plantation City Court Docket
Missing a court date on the Plantation City Court Docket triggers a failure to appear. The clerk enters a bench warrant on the docket within 24 hours. In a criminal case, the warrant goes into a statewide law enforcement database. In a traffic case, the clerk notifies the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and your driver license gets suspended until you resolve the case. In a civil case, the plaintiff can ask the clerk to enter a default judgment against you. The fastest fix is to go to the clerk’s office the next business day, pay the bond or the fine if the court allows, and ask the judge to recall the warrant. A defense attorney can also file a motion to vacate the warrant on your behalf.
Can I Remove a Case From the Plantation City Court Docket
You can remove a case from the Plantation City Court Docket only through a court order. Florida law allows expungement for certain criminal cases that ended in a dismissal, a nolle prosequi, an acquittal, or a withhold of adjudication after completion of probation. You file a petition for expungement in the court that handled the case and serve it on the State Attorney and the arresting agency. The clerk seals the record if the judge grants the petition. Sealed records stay off the public docket, but law enforcement, the courts, and some licensing agencies can still see them. You cannot expunge a case that ended in a conviction unless the governor or the president grants a pardon. A sealed adoption, juvenile, or mental health record follows a different process under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420.
Does the Plantation City Court Docket Show Outstanding Warrants
Yes, the Plantation City Court Docket shows outstanding warrants. A bench warrant for a missed court date, a probation violation, or a violation of a no-contact order appears as a status flag on the case detail page. The entry lists the warrant type, the issuing judge, the date of issue, and the bond amount if any. Active warrants also appear on the daily arrest log published by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. People who want to resolve an outstanding warrant should hire a defense attorney or walk into the clerk’s office at the West Regional Courthouse and ask to turn themselves in through the clerk’s walk-in surrender program. The clerk schedules a first appearance the same day in most cases.