Traffic Tickets in Arizona

SUMMARY: Arizona Traffic Tickets

Arizona traffic tickets may be paid online, by mail, by phone, or in person, depending on the county. In some cases, you may need to appear in court. If you want to fight your traffic ticket, you must plead “not guilty" in an Arizona court. In certain cases, you may be able to dismiss the traffic ticket by completing a defensive driving course.

On this page, you'll find details about AZ traffic tickets, including fine amounts, penalties, and how to respond to a ticket.

Traffic Ticket Fines and Penalties

The fines, penalties, and court costs for an AZ traffic ticket vary by court and violation. Check your traffic ticket to view your specific fees and penalties. In some cases, you may have your traffic ticket dismissed by completing a defensive driving course (additional fees apply).

Visit our Ticket Fines & Penalties page for more information or contact the Arizona county court listed on your citation.

Driving Record Points

In addition to hefty fines, moving violations—including speeding and disobeying traffic signals—also result in points being added to your AZ driving record.

You can receive anywhere from 2 points to 8 points per infraction. The more severe the violation, the more points you will receive; for example, you may be assessed:

  • 3 points for a speeding ticket.
  • 8 points for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI).

Accumulating too many driving record points will result in a driver's license suspension.

For more information, visit our page on the DMV Point System in Arizona.

Pay a Traffic Ticket in Arizona

Depending on where you received your traffic ticket, you may have the following options to pay your fine:

  • Online.
  • By mail.
  • By phone.
  • In person.

Check your traffic ticket for accepted payment methods in the relevant county, or contact the traffic court directly.

NOTE: Depending on your specific circumstance, completing a court-approved defensive driving course may dismiss your traffic ticket.

Fight an AZ Traffic Ticket

To contest your Arizona traffic ticket, you'll need to plead "not guilty" in court. If your traffic ticket has a court date listed, you will not have to schedule a hearing.

For more information about pleading “not guilty" or scheduling a hearing, check your traffic ticket or contact the relevant AZ county court directly.

Read our Fighting Traffic Tickets page for more information.

You may also want to consider seeking legal guidance and/or representation from an Arizona traffic ticket attorney.

NOTE: Your eligibility to dismiss your ticket by completing a defensive driving program should be included on your traffic ticket.

Don't Overpay for Car Insurance

If you had your traffic ticket dismissed by completing a defensive driving course, make sure points weren't added to your driving record by mistake. Accumulating points can cause your auto insurance rates to skyrocket.

Order your driving record today!

Lost Your Traffic Ticket?

Depending on the court, you may be able to look up information about your lost AZ traffic ticket online. You'll need to provide your last name or case number.

NOTE: Records are updated weekly. If the information you find is inaccurate, contact the appropriate court directly.

Fines & Penalties for Commercial Drivers

If you have a commercial driver's license (CDL), you are required to notify your employer within 30 days after being convicted a traffic ticket. You must also notify the AZ Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) if you receive a citation in another state.

The fines and penalties you receive as a commercial driver may be higher than for regular drivers.

Visit our Ticket Fines & Penalties and Suspended CDL in Arizona pages for more information.

Arizona Traffic Tickets: FAQs

If you still have questions, our Traffic Ticket FAQ page has more information about:

  • Hiring a traffic ticket attorney.
  • Getting a traffic ticket as a minor.
  • Driving records.
  • Ticket and point dismissal.
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