The only good thing about getting a traffic ticket in Maine is how easy it has become to pay it. With PayTixx, the Maine Judicial Branch's online payment site, you can get rid of a ticket even faster that it took to be stopped by the police in the first place.

Top Paying a Fine with PayTixx

The process is straightforward:

1. Go to the PayTixx site.
2. Have your ticket and MasterCard or Visa ready.
3. Input your ticket number and some ID information.
4. Pay the ticket online with your credit card. You'll be charged a processing fee for using the online service in addition to the fine. The fee is based on a scale depending on the amount of your original fine.

PayTixx Restrictions

If you're especially prompt in trying to pay the ticket, you may find that it is not in the PayTixx database yet. It can take up to 10 days after the citation was issued for a ticket to be included in the database.

You cannot use PayTixx to pay any other fines besides motor vehicle violations, including parking tickets. Parking tickets are paid directly to the municipality where the violation took place.

Top If You Don't Use PayTixx

You have the right to contest a ticket and go to court. If you aren't contesting your ticket, you have 20 calendar days from the date you received your ticket to pay your fine. If the fine is not paid in full after an additional 30 days, your license will be suspended without further notice. Besides Paytixx, you can pay by any of the following methods:

You may send a check or money order to the Maine Judicial Branch Violations Bureau using the self-addressed envelope provided with your traffic ticket. If you did not receive an envelope, or lost it, the address is:

• Violations Bureau

• 85 Park St., P.O. Box 480

• Lewiston, ME 04243-0480

You may pay your fine in person at the Violations Bureau. The window is open from 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. It is located at 85 Park Street in Lewiston.

Top Contesting a Ticket

You have the right to go before a district court judge and challenge any traffic ticket issued by a Maine law enforcement officer.

To do so, you won't send in your fine. Instead, you must request a hearing by filling out the relevant areas on the citation itself and sending it to the Violations Bureau at the address listed above. You must do this before the due date for paying your fine.

Within three weeks, the Violations Bureau will notify you by mail of your court date. This is your appointment to appear before a judge and district attorney. You or your attorney must appear on this date; otherwise, you will be in default and subject to penalties for failing to appear.

You and the police officer who issued you the citation will both argue your cases before the judge. The judge will usually make a ruling at that time. If the verdict is "guilty," then be aware that not only will you have to pay the initial fine, but you might also face court costs and additional fines as well. If the judge declares you innocent, then you're free to go―no fines paid.

Top Points on Your License

Being found guilty of a moving violation in Maine means you will get points against your license. Accumulate enough points, and your license can be suspended or revoked.

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