Orange County

Virtual traffic court in Orange County to continue post-pandemic

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Getting a traffic ticket may be stressful, but going to court doesn’t have to be as taxing as it was before the pandemic.

The virtual traffic court that Orange County set up because of COVID-19 is going to stick around post-pandemic.

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You used to have to come down to the courthouse for a traffic hearing, but since traffic court and other hearings had to be held virtually thanks to COVID-19, people were dialing in instead.

It’s not just more convenient for the public, but also for the trooper and police officers who also had to spend hours at the courthouse waiting, some after a very long shift.

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Law enforcement agencies now will likely see huge cuts in those extra costs in the long run, not only saving them time but also taxpayers’ money.

Not all hearings can be held this way, though. If the traffic violations involved an injury, that likely will have to be held in front of a judge.

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Shannon Butler

Shannon Butler, WFTV.com

Shannon joined the Eyewitness News team in 2013.

Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson, WFTV.com

Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.