Pay Traffic Ticket in Rhode Island

Know Your Options

What it Means to Pay Your RI Traffic Ticket

Essentially, paying your RI traffic ticket is an admission of guilty―even if you plead no contest.

Other points to remember about paying your RI traffic ticket:

• You can pay a Traffic Tribunal ticket online (see below).
• Some violations are serious enough for a suspended or revoked license.
• Depending on your driving history, you could receive a habitual offender label.
• You auto insurance company probably will increase your rates.
• The judge might dismiss your ticket on good driving record claim.

Note that if:

• You’re younger than 18, you can’t move on to the next licensing phase if you accumulated any moving violations during the mandatory waiting period. See Ticket Fines and Penalties for details.
• You’re charged with DUI (21 and older) or DWI (younger than 21), your fines and penalties are stiffer. Refer to RI DUI for more information.

Your payment method and options depend on the court handling your ticket. Your ticket is with a Tribunal Court if it’s a state violation and a Municipal Court if it’s a city violation.

Failure to pay your traffic ticket fine on time results in a default judgment and an order for:

• License suspension or revocation.
• Vehicle registration suspension.
• State income tax withholding.

Can’t find your ticket with the due by or hearing date? Head over to Lost RI Traffic Tickets.

Good Driving Record Ticket Dismissal

Per the state’s “good driving record” statute, you can request the court dismiss your ticket based on your good driving record; if the court agrees, your ticket will disappear.

However, you must still pay all related costs.

Plead Guilty as a RI CDL Driver

Generally, you can plead guilty or no contest the same way any other driver would; however, you must:

• Notify your employer within 30 days of a conviction.
• Understand that pleading to or being found guilty of certain offenses will severely affect your income and possibly your career.

Learn more at Ticket Fines and Penalties.

Plead Not Guilty

Some drivers pleading guilty and paying their fines more convenient than contesting their charges; others don’t.

You can enter a not guilty plea during your arraignment and schedule a hearing to fight your case in court. Refer to Fighting Your Traffic Ticket to learn more about this option.

Pay Your Rhode Island Traffic Ticket Online

You can pay your ticket online if your ticket is through the Traffic Tribunal. Visit the Rhode Island Judiciary Online Payment system to get started.

NOTE: Some violations require the driver to appear in court. Check your ticket for information about a mandatory court appearance before paying your fine and moving on.

Keep reading if your ticket is with a Municipal Court.

Additional Traffic Ticket Payment Options

If your ticket is with a Municipal Court, Rhode Island recommends contacting that court to ask about the traffic ticket payment options and methods it allows.

Generally, drivers can pay by mail, in person, or in some cases over the telephone. Remember to ask about acceptable methods like personal checks, money orders, cashier’s checks, cash, and credit and debit cards.

Just as with Traffic Tribunal tickets, Municipal Court tickets can require court appearances. Remember to check for such information on your ticket.

NOTE: Alternative payment methods such as these might be available to drivers with Ticket Tribunal cases who aren’t able to pay online. Just contact the Ticket Tribunal for details.

Get Points Removed from Your Driving Record

Rhode Island doesn’t assign points for traffic violations.

Check Your Driving Record

Even though you won’t receive points for a violation, the violation will appear on your record.

Numerous people―from potential employers to auto insurance providers―look at your driving record when evaluating you, so checking yours is a good way to make sure it only shows what it should show.

You can then ask the DMV about what you can do or how long you must wait for the violations to disappear.

Learn more at RI Driving Records.

Shop for Better Auto Insurance Rates

Unless your ticket was dismissed per the state’s good driving record statute, pleading guilty and paying your fine is the equivalent of being convicted, and most auto insurance providers increase rates after convictions.

Talk with your agent about this possibility (usually, it doesn’t take place until it’s time for you to renew); if you find out you’re facing an increase, start comparing insurance quotes online to find more affordable coverage.