Paying Your Traffic Ticket

Paying your traffic ticket is important. Once you file the paperwork and put your check in the mail, you'll feel much better about your driving record. To ignore a traffic ticket could result in points on your driving record and even license suspension.

Civil and Criminal Violations

The Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will propose and publish traffic laws and the vehicle code; you learned traffic laws in driver education and read about traffic rules in the driver handbook. Some traffic tickets are categorized as civil violations.

Civil violations include running red lights; Delaware has a progressive automatic Electronic Red Light Safety Program where minor traffic violations are mailed to you based on cameras.

If your vehicle violates a traffic rule, like running a red light, the camera will photograph your driver's license and then mail you a $75 ticket. There are no associated points for your driving record; after all, just because it was your vehicle doesn't mean you were behind the wheel.

A red light violation from the electronic program will not be reported to your insurance company; another reason you might just send in the $75 and watch the lights more carefully in the future.

Most traffic violations are categorized as criminal violations. That means your paying your ticket involves the Delaware court system.

Paying Voluntary Assessment Tickets

If your ticket allows for voluntary assessment it will say so right on the paperwork. To plea guilty and pay your fine, follow the instructions on the ticket. Delaware has several convenient ways for you to pay your ticket:

• Phone―with a credit card

• Mail―with a credit card or check

• Fax―with a credit card

• In Person―with a credit card, cash, or check

Your voluntary assessment ticket has a form on the back for credit card information. To pay by phone, call (302) 739-6911 and have all your paperwork handy.

Paying by mail is easy. Just send the ticket with your payment information to:

• Voluntary Assessment Center

• P.O. Box 7039

• Dover, DE 19903-7039

Using the fax to send in your payment information is quick and easy to confirm. Fax the ticket and your credit card information to (302) 739-7590.

Some folks like to pay in person and walk out with a receipt. To pay in person, visit a Justice of the Peace Criminal Court. Bring your ticket and payment with you.

Speak with the court regarding any option you may have of satisfying the ticket or lowering points by attending a driver improvement course.

Disputing a Voluntary Assessment Ticket

Perhaps you want to plead not guilty because you disagree with the violation. Your ticket has a section for your plea; sign the ticket and mail or fax it to the court. Your case will be moved to traffic court where motor vehicle cases are routinely handled in an expeditious way.

Once you have mailed in your not guilty plea, the court will send you a notice with your court date, time, and location. Prepare for your court date and be sure to carry with you any paperwork related to the violation, your insurance, and even your driving record.

You can dispute some convictions within 15 days of the conviction. Ask the court if your conviction qualifies―how much was the fine and did you get any prison time?

You may be upset about getting a traffic ticket but you must be sure to process your ticket timely. Follow the instructions carefully and prepare any documents you'll need if you decide to plead not guilty.