-
Lost Traffic Ticket in Iowa
Online Traffic Ticket Search
There are two ways you can search for your lost traffic ticket online.
First, you can use the Iowa Courts Online Search. With this option, you can get by with some basic personally identifying information.
If that doesn’t work, you can use the Iowa Courts Online Payment Search. It’s the same website drivers can use to pay their traffic tickets online. As long as you can enter your first and last name, you don’t need to know your citation number―but you must know the county in which you received the ticket.
Contact the Iowa Office of Driver Services
The Office of Driver Services will send you a tangible copy of your traffic ticket for 50 cents.
Just write a request and mail it, along with your driver’s license number and a check or money order for 50 cents to:
- Office of Driver Services
- Iowa Department of Transportation
- PO Box 9204
- Des Moines, IA 50306-9204
NOTE: Make your check or money order payable to “Treasurer, State of Iowa.”
Contact Your Clerk of Court
If you can remember the county in which you received the ticket, your county clerk’s office can provide you with anything you need to know about your ticket―for free.
Just contact your clerk, state that you need to retrieve lost traffic ticket information, and provide the office with your name and possibly your date of birth and driver’s license number.
Because your citation holds some pretty important information, be sure to ask about:
- The traffic ticket fine.
- The date by which you must pay or appear in court.
- Whether you citation is “scheduled” or “non-scheduled.” If you have a “non-scheduled” citation, it means you must appear in court.
Determine How You Will Plead
You can plead to your IA traffic ticket in one of the following ways.
- Guilty.
- No contest.
- Not guilty.
Pleading guilty or no contest produces the same results: You’ll pay your fine, deal with any related consequences (such as having the violation on your record), and possibly see an increase in auto insurance rates.
Pleading not guilty means you’ll plead your case in court and, if found not guilty, won’t have to pay the fine or deal with any penalties.
Check out Paying Your Traffic Ticket and Fighting Your Traffic Ticket for more details.
Pay Ticket
(Plead Guilty or No Contest)- Pay the fine.
- Accumulate driving record points.
- Risk license suspension or revocation.
- Possibly have to attend driver improvement school.
- See an increase in auto insurance rates.
Learn more about
Paying your Traffic Ticket »Fight Ticket
(Plead Not Guilty)- Contest the ticket during a hearing.
- Seek legal counsel or prepare and present the case yourself.
- Have no penalties if found not guilty (except any applicable court/attorney fees).
- Possibly have to attend driver improvement school.
- Appeal the guilty verdict (if applicable).
Learn more about
Fighting your Traffic Ticket »Other Topics in This Section
Recommended Articles
Next Prev-
Contesting an Out-of-State Traffic Ticket -
Traffic Ticket Myths: What’s Fact and What’s Fiction? -
Using Witnesses When Fighting a Traffic Ticket -
The Pros and Cons of Fighting a Traffic Ticket -
Traffic Ticket and DUI Penalties for Commercial Drivers -
Attending Traffic School for an Auto Insurance Discount -
Types of Traffic Schools -
Attending Traffic School for a Traffic Ticket -
Handling a Lost Parking Ticket -
Handling a Lost Out-of-State Traffic Ticket -
Federal Agency Stirring Around the Idea of Lowering BAC Limit to .05 Percent -
How to Do An Online Warrant Search
- What is the cost of my traffic ticket?
- How can I find a lost traffic ticket online?
- What does it mean to be a “habitual offender”?
FAQs
- Contesting an Out-of-State Traffic Ticket
- Traffic Ticket Myths: What’s Fact and What’s Fiction?
- Using Witnesses When Fighting a Traffic Ticket
- The Pros and Cons of Fighting a Traffic Ticket
- Traffic Ticket and DUI Penalties for Commercial Drivers
- Attending Traffic School for an Auto Insurance Discount
Articles
Can't find something? Let us help you find it!
We put a lot of effort into making our content helpful & accurate. Please let us know if you see something that isn't clear or correct; we are here to ease any frustrations you may have while navigating DMV topics. We are not a government agency, please reach out to your local DMV, insurance agent, or respective professional for further assistance on specific situations.
