Pay Traffic Ticket in Kentucky

Know Your Options

What It Means to Pay Your KY Traffic Ticket

Pleading guilty and paying your KY traffic ticket fine means you also might:

• Take on any related penalties, such as driving record points.
• Receive the option to plead to a lesser offense and get lesser penalties; you must appear in court for this option, and often a traffic ticket lawyer can help.
• Prepay your ticket fine and court costs online, by mail, or in person.
• Get the opportunity to enroll in a state-approved traffic school to satisfy the citation and prevent a point increase. (Kentucky’s vehicle code and point system provide additional information.)
• Qualify for an auto insurance discount (if you enroll in traffic school).

Note that if:

• You’re younger than 18 and receive traffic violations, your waiting period to move on to the next licensing phase starts all over; if you receive a certain number of points, you face license suspension. Learn more at our Traffic Ticket Fines and Penalties section.
• You’re a CDL holder and receive a traffic violation while operating a CMV, you might still be eligible for traffic school.

Understand that prepaying your traffic ticket doesn’t mean you can avoid court, but it does mean you must prepay within a certain amount of time. Read on for the various options.

Plead Guilty as a KY CDL Driver

Usually, CDL holders follow the same basic procedures for pleading guilty and paying their fines as drivers with regular licenses; however, CDL holders must also inform:

• Their employers within 30 days of receiving a citation.
• The KTC within 30 days of receiving a citation in another state.

Sometimes, CDL holders are eligible for traffic school. Completing a course will prevent additional points from showing up on a CDL holder’s record, but it won’t keep the violation from appearing.

For more information about CDL holders and traffic offenses, refer to the Kentucky Commercial Driver License Manual.

Plead Not Guilty

Note that you don’t have to plead guilty. Your ticket gives you a court date, and you can appear on that court date to plead not guilty and have, or schedule, a hearing.

Our section on fighting your KY traffic ticket outlines how you can prepare your case, when you should hire an attorney, and what it means if you’re found guilty.

Pay Your Kentucky Traffic Ticket Online

If all of the following apply to you, you most likely can prepay your traffic ticket fines and court costs online using the state’s ePay service:

• Your ticket is marked “Payable” (as opposed to “Court”) in the “Court” section. This means you’re allowed to prepay your fines and court costs, rather than wait until your court date.
• You have at least three days before your scheduled court appearance.
• You did not receive the ticket in any of the following counties: Edmonson, Harlan, Logan, McCracken, Menifee, or Wayne.

You must have your ticket on hand, as the system requires you to enter the court date, the county in which you were cited, and the citation control number. The system accepts major credit cards and debit cards, and charges a convenience fee.

Don’t have your ticket? Head over to our section on Lost KY Traffic Tickets to find out how to retrieve your information.

Determine Where You Got Your KY Traffic Ticket

The city and county in which you were ticketed are listed within the “Date/Time” section of your citation.

Visit the Proper County Website

The Kentucky Court of Justice provides information about the circuit court clerks in each county. Search for your county and find contact, address, and direction information; hours of operation; and acceptable payment methods.

Pay Your Traffic Ticket

If you’re not eligible to prepay your KY traffic ticket online (or for some reason can’t), you can prepay by mail or in person as long as your ticket is marked “Payable.”

KY traffic tickets include specific instructions on how to prepay via the mail or in person, including the address and final cost. The tickets also include information about:

• Payment methods. Generally, you can pay by mail with a certified check or money order, and in person with a certified check, money order, or cash.
• Time limits. If you’re paying by mail, the envelope must be postmarked at least seven days prior to your court date.

Avoid Getting Points On Your Driving Record

Kentucky drivers can attend a state-approved traffic school to:

• Avoid accumulating points associated with a traffic violation.
• Reduce driving record points if they’re getting close to suspension.

Traffic school is only an option once every 12 months, and must be approved by the court. This means you must get permission from the court even if you don’t have a current traffic citation. Learn more on our point reduction page.

You can request permission to attend traffic school in relation to a traffic ticket in person, or by mail. Simply mail to your court:

• A written request for traffic school.
• A copy of your traffic ticket.
• Payment for your court costs (on line 10 of the ticket).

The court will notify you if you’re approved, and you’ll receive a bill for the school costs.

For more information, contact your court.

Check Your Driving Record

It’s a good idea to check your driving record after dealing with a traffic ticket―including after attending traffic school―to make sure you aren’t getting close to license suspension or that you didn’t accumulate any points you weren’t supposed to get.

Our section on the KY point system outlines how points can negatively affect your driving privileges.

Shop for Better Auto Insurance Rates

KY traffic tickets often lead to hikes in auto insurance rates. After you receive a violation, talk with your agent about how it might affect your costs. Be sure to mention whether you attended traffic school, as this might qualify you for a discount (or at least prevent an increase).

If you learn your rates will increase, start comparing insurance quotes online to find a better deal.