Paying Your Traffic Ticket

No one likes to be pulled over. Especially at night on a major road like Ala Moana, when a symphony of shifting headlights makes you feel like a common criminal in front of thousands of other drivers. Then, after all that drama, you only get a citation for changing lanes without a signal. Well, unfortunately most everyone can relate to that feeling.

There are two basic types of traffic citations in Hawaii: civil and criminal. If you are pulled over for a traffic-related crime (for example, DWI or reckless driving), the high drama of standing by the side of the road in a cop car's headlights will quickly turn ugly. You might end up in the back seat of the patrol car rather than driving off, a bit embarrassed and frustrated at having a ticket―but no worse for wear.

On the other hand, if you weren't that bad and were cited for a civil traffic offense, then once the hoopla dies down and the ticket is in your hand, the state makes it pretty easy to take care of the fine.

But even for a civil traffic ticket, once the law enforcement officer enters it into the system, it is essentially a charge being issued against you. At that point, the charge moves to the District Courts (see locations below), and it is recorded on your driving record. The District Courts oversee all traffic matters; you will find branches peppered throughout each island.

Since you will now have a charge pending against you in a District Court, a response―otherwise known as a plea―is required from you. From the time you sign the citation in front of the issuing officer, you have 21 days to take action.

Plea Options

In this time frame, you can mull over the three plea choices offered by the state of Hawaii and explained in detail on the flip side of your ticket.

Guilty Plea

In Hawaii, this is simply referred to as "Admit and Pay." If you did the deed and got caught doing it, and the infraction does not require a court appearance (it will say so on your ticket), there are three easy ways to clear the matter.

Pay online: Perhaps the easiest way to resolve a traffic ticket is to use the state's secure eTraffic online citation payment system. You can pay using either Visa or MasterCard. The only drawback is that a 3% convenience fee is tacked onto the fine. But if you consider the cost of a stamp these days or what a hassle it would be to go to the court office, that is not all that much. To pay, you will need:

• Credit card for payment

• Ticket to enter the citation number and violation date

• License plate number of the vehicle you were driving

If the citation indicates that you are required to appear in court, you will not be able to use this service. Also, if the 21-day period has elapsed, you must appear in person at a court office (see locations below).

Pay by telephone: This is basically the same as paying online except that you call and pay the fine using the interactive menu. The service can be reached at (800) 679-5949. Credit cards (Visa and MasterCard) are the only acceptable method of payment, and the 3% convenience fee is also assessed.

Pay by mail: All citations come with a self-addressed envelope. You don't even have to worry where to send in your fine. Simply write a check or purchase a money order for the proper amount, put a stamp on the envelope, and drop it in the mail.

Pay in person: If you want to see exactly who you are giving your money to, paying the fine in person is an option. Simply locate the district court in your area (see locations below) and make a visit. All forms of payment are usually available. However, if you pay using a credit card, the 3% fee is also added onto the fine.

Guilty, But... Plea

Under this circumstance, you can admit that you committed the violation but request a hearing to explain any circumstances you may feel will mitigate the fine. The request still needs to be made within the 21-day grace period and can be submitted in person or by mail. A court date will be assigned, and you will get a chance to plea your case to the judge. Once a verdict is handed down, it is final. Thus, you cannot disagree and go the appeals route.

Not-Guilty Plea

The more risky route to take is to deny committing the infraction and taking your chances in court. You can submit this plea in person or by mail in writing. A court date will be assigned and you will be able to present your case (or have a lawyer take charge). If the judgment is not to your liking, you have 30 days to appeal the decision. The state has put together some helpful tips to read over before you head into the courtroom.

District Court Locations

• Oahu District Courts

• Maui District Courts

• Hawaii District Courts

• Kauai District Courts