How to Check Your Traffic Tickets Online(USA)
By DRIVE-SAFELY.NET
When you get pulled over and receive a traffic citation, it pays to take care of it promptly before additional fines and penalties accrue. Sometimes people lose the citation they received at the time of the violation, or they do not receive a notice in the mail after a traffic stop and are unsure about how much they owe, when it is due, or whether they can attend traffic school to protect their insurance rates and driving points.
Many traffic courts and state agencies allow you to check traffic tickets online for free, saving you time and potentially money in additional penalties or even an arrest warrant for multiple unpaid tickets.
How To Check Your Traffic Tickets Online By State
To know how to check your traffic tickets online, you really need to look at the specific steps for the state you live in. Below is a list of how to check your traffic tickets online by each individual state.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Checking a Traffic Ticket Online for Free
When you get a ticket, the officer gives you a copy of the citation. The citation contains important information including a citation number, usually written at the top, a description of the violation and code section, the officer’s name, and the location and time of the violation.
Printed on the citation is the web address where you can go to check your traffic ticket online for free if this is available at the court issuing the ticket. The citation also contains the phone number and address for contacting the court issuing your ticket if you cannot access this information online.
When you look-up a traffic ticket online, you usually can retrieve information by entering the citation number, case number, or your driver’s license number. Some states, such as California, have state-wide online systems for looking up traffic tickets for free.
How Much Do Traffic Tickets Cost
The amount of the fine for a traffic ticket varies considerably depending on local laws, the type of violation, whether alcohol or drugs are involved, and the person’s history of traffic violations. In California, for example, fines for traffic violations are the same across all counties.
Besides a monetary fine, a traffic ticket for a moving violation or felony charge also often involves the driver receiving one or more negative points on their driving record. Less serious offenses, such as failing to stop at a stop sign, receive lower points than more serious offenses such as DUI and fleeing the scene of an accident. In California, drivers who receive more than four points in 12 months have their driver’s license automatically suspended.
For some less serious offenses when you get a traffic ticket, you can attend traffic school online or at a school location, and the points for the violation will not be added to your record. However, you can only use this option every 12 to 18 months, depending on the local laws. If you are eligible, attending traffic school also means that your auto insurance rates will not be affected as a result of the violation.
In most cases, you can pay your ticket online, by mail, or in-person at the court using a check, credit card, or bank card to make the payment.