Paying Your Traffic Ticket

Nobody likes getting a traffic ticket. The sternness of the officer and the unsympathetic way he or she announces your crime makes you feel like a child that has been caught stealing pennies from a wishing well. For those reasons, you may choose to pay the ticket quickly and forget about the situation.

How to Pay a Ticket

Revenues from traffic tickets in Arizona are collected by the municipalities in which the ticket was issued. As such, most communities allow you to pay a ticket in person at a courthouse or municipal building, mail a check or money order, or pay by phone using a credit card. Mailing addresses and contact phone numbers will be listed on the ticket.

In this day and age, you can even pay fines and court fees in installments online.

By paying, you waive your right to a court hearing and plead guilty to the charge.

Contesting Your Ticket

Of course, you can also contest your ticket in court. You will need to appear in person and plead not guilty in front of a judge. The ticket itself will name a court date for you to do so.

Before you go, research the traffic law that you have been accused of violating. It will help you decide the strength of your case and identify factors that you may not have considered, like the officer's location at the time of the incident.

You may also choose to request traffic school to avoid accruing points on your record. You can call the Customer Service Call Center at (602) 255-0072 (Phonenix), (520) 629-9808 (Tucson), or (800) 251-5866 (other Arizona cities) to find out how many points you already have on your license. You may also make a traffic-school request in court.

However, you should keep in mind the time and expense associated with contesting your ticket. Pride may be valuable, but so is your free time and mental health.

Penalties for Not Paying

The state of Arizona reserves the right to suspend your license if you do not pay a traffic ticket by the specified date. The Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) can also refuse to renew your vehicle registrations and license plates if you have outstanding tickets on your record. The courts and MVD may also refer your case to a collection agency.