Paying Your Traffic Ticket

When you receive a traffic ticket, the law enforcement officer who wrote the citation will give you instructions on how to pay the ticket. In most cases, you can pay your ticket by mailing a check to the county clerk of court.

Most traffic tickets in Missouri are handled by the state circuit courts, while some municipalities have their own traffic courts. Missouri also offers an online fine payment system through the Fine Collection Center, which collects fines for some traffic violations. Currently, 86 of Missouri's 114 counties participate in this system.

To find out if your ticket can be paid through the Fine Collection Center, visit their Web site and have your citation number ready.

If you've lost your ticket or you have questions about paying your traffic ticket, you can call the Missouri Department of Revenue at (573) 526-2407. This convenient interactive voice response system is available 24 hours per day.

Should I Pay if I Plan to Protest the Ticket?

If you don't believe you are guilty of the offense for which your ticket was issued, you shouldn't pay the fine. The state of Missouri considers payment to be an admission of guilt. If you want to protest the ticket, you should arrange for your court appearance instead.

Do I Still Need to Pay if the Officer Made a Mistake?

Many Missouri residents have heard that you can avoid paying a traffic ticket if the officer misspells your name or writes down the wrong license plate number. Unfortunately, this information is incorrect. Simple errors won't get your ticket thrown out.

What Happens if I Don't Pay My Traffic Ticket?

Although you've probably got a million other things to do, it's not a good idea to just ignore your ticket. If you fail to pay your traffic ticket or appear in court by the assigned date, you can lose your driving privileges. To get your license back after a Failure to Appear in Court for Traffic Violation (FACT) suspension, you'll need to pay a $20 fine and show proof that you have settled your ticket to your nearest driver's license office.

If you receive a ticket while traveling out of state, remember that the Missouri Department of Revenue can suspend your license for failure to pay tickets issued anywhere in the United States.