Florida/Georgia Personal Injury & Workers Compensation

...unexpected brake failure of the Steele vehicle. The judge found the defendant guilty as charged and fined him $100 plus $4 court costs. The respondent Steele appealed his conviction to the Circuit Court for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida. Section 318.16(1), Florida Statutes (1975)....

...The only change was the penalty from a criminal fine or imprisonment to a civil fine. The clear intent of the legislature is that the county courts would remain vested with jurisdiction of these matters. Pursuant to section 318.13(4), Florida Statutes (1977), only a "judge" may be a hearing official. Also, according to section 318.16(1), Florida Statutes (1977), an appeal from a hearing official's decision may be taken to the circuit court....

...dismiss as a motion to transfer venue to the circuit court’s appellate division and grant same. “If a person is found to have committed an infraction by the hearing official, he or she may appeal that finding to the circuit court.” § 318.16(1), Fla. Stat. (2021) (emphasis added). Chapter 318 defines “official” as “any judge authorized by law to preside over a court or hearing adjudicating traffic infractions.” § 318.13(4), Fla. Stat. (2021) (emphasis added). Thus, section 318.16 vests the circuit court with appellate jurisdiction over a county court judge’s determination with respect to a civil traffic infraction....