In Re: Amendments to Florida Rule of Traffic Court 6.450

Supreme Court of Florida
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No. SC2024-1763
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IN RE: AMENDMENTS TO FLORIDA RULE OF TRAFFIC COURT
6.450.

September 11, 2025

PER CURIAM.

The Florida Bar’s Traffic Court Rules Committee has filed a

report proposing amendments to Florida Rule of Traffic Court 6.450

(Order of Hearing). The Committee unanimously approved the

proposed amendments, and the Board of Governors unanimously

recommends their acceptance. The Committee published the

proposed amendments online and in the August 2024 edition of The

Florida Bar News, and it received no comments. After the proposed

amendments were filed with the Court, we republished the proposal

and also received no comments. Having considered the

Committee’s report, we hereby adopt the amendments as proposed.

The more significant amendments are as follows.
First, we amend subdivision (e) (Further Examination) of rule

6.450 to allow hearing officials to examine witnesses any time

before commencement of closing statements. Next, we amend

subdivision (f) (Closing Statement) to clarify that no testimony or

evidence may be entered into the record once closing statements

have commenced.

Accordingly, the Florida Rules of Traffic Court are hereby

amended as reflected in the appendix to this opinion. New

language is indicated by underscoring; deletions are indicated by

struck-through type. The amendments are effective immediately.

It is so ordered.

MUÑIZ, C.J., and CANADY, LABARGA, COURIEL, GROSSHANS,
FRANCIS, and SASSO, JJ., concur.

THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER
THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE AMENDMENTS.

Original Proceeding – Florida Rules of Traffic Court

Rand Scott Lieber, Chair, Traffic Court Rules Committee,
Hollywood, Florida, Mary Ann Etzler, Past Chair, Traffic Court Rules
Committee, Orlando, Florida, Joshua E. Doyle, Executive Director,
The Florida Bar, Tallahassee, Florida, and Kelly Noel Smith, Bar
Liaison, The Florida Bar, Tallahassee, Florida,

for Petitioner

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APPENDIX

RULE 6.450. ORDER OF HEARING

(a) When Traffic Infraction Admitted. If a defendant
admits that the traffic infraction was committed, the official
shallmust permit the defendant to offer a statement concerning the
commission of the infraction. The official may examine the
defendant and issuing officer concerning the infraction prior to
making a determination as to the civil penalty to be imposed.

(b) Description of Procedure. Before the commencement of
a hearing the official shallmust briefly describe and explain the
purposes and procedure of the hearing and the rights of the
defendant.

(c) Defense. The defendant may offer sworn testimony and
evidence and, after such testimony is offered, shallmust answer any
questions asked by the official.

(d) Additional Witnesses. If the testimony of additional
witnesses is to be offered, the order in which the witnesses
shallmust testify shallmust be determined by the official conducting
the hearing. Any such witness shallmust be sworn and shallmust
testify, and may then be questioned by the official, and thereafter
may be questioned by the defendant or counsel.

(e) Further Examination. Upon the conclusion of such
testimony and examinationAt any time prior to closing statements
commencing, the official may further examine or allow such
examination as the official deems appropriate.

(f) Closing Statement. At the conclusion of all testimony
and examination, the defendant or counsel shallmust be permitted
to make a statement in the nature of a closing argument. Once any
closing statement has begun, no further testimony or evidence may
be entered into the record.

(g) [No Change]

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