You're driving along feeling that all's right with the world when you see those flashing lights in your rearview mirror. Or after a successful session of retail therapy, you emerge from the store to find that your meter expired hours ago and you are now the proud owner of a parking ticket. Don't panic. Here's what you should do.

Choices, Choices

When you receive a parking ticket, a ticket for a minor moving violation, or a photo enforcement ticket, you are required to respond within 30 calendar days of the ticket date (yes, that's counting holidays and weekends). Your options are to either admit liability and go ahead and pay the ticket, or you can contest the ticket.

Ignoring the Ticket

The best thing to do when you receive a ticket is to deal with it quickly. A parking ticket that is not paid or contested within 30 calendar days gets a penalty equal to the original fine amount added to it.

For a traffic ticket, your license will be suspended until you either pay the ticket or contest it. After 30 days, a notice will be mailed to the address in the DMV record of the registered owner of the vehicle.

If 60 days go by and you still have not responded to the ticket, it then goes into default and you lose your option to have a hearing to contest it. You must pay all fines and penalties, plus a $5 default fee that gets added to the ticket after the 60-day period.

How to Pay a Ticket

You'll have to pay your ticket within 30 calendar days, or a penalty equal to the amount of the original fine gets added to it.

The District of Columbia's Department of Motor Vehicles offers several convenient ways to pay your ticket: in person, online, by mail, or over the telephone at (202) 289-2230. You might also be eligible to pay for your tickets in installments.

• In person: If you pay in person, report to the DMV's Adjudication Services location. Bring your ticket with you and simply go to the cashier window to pay it. If you have not brought your ticket with you, you'll have to show your ID and they will give you a printout of your ticket, which you can then take to the cashier window to pay the ticket. The DMV accepts cash, checks, money orders, or credit cards, but not American Express.

• Online: When you get ready to pay your ticket online, be sure to have your ticket handy and your credit card information available.

• By mail: When you write your check or money order, make it out to "DC Treasurer" (never send cash). Be sure to write your ticket number on whatever form of payment you use, and don't forget to include the ticket. If you don't have the ticket, write the vehicle's state and tag number on your payment.

• Mail your parking ticket and payment to:
  • DMV Adjudication Services
  • P.O. Box 2014
  • Washington, DC 20013

• Mail your photo enforcement ticket and payment to:
  • Automated Traffic Enforcement
  • P.O. Box 37075
  • Washington, DC 20013-7075

How to Contest A Parking Ticket

You may contest your parking ticket either by mail or at a hearing in person within 60 days of the date of the ticket. If more than 60 days have passed since the ticket date, you have the option to submit a Motion to Vacate Default Judgement, which will determine whether or not you can still contest your ticket.

Your hearing request must be received by the DMV within 60 days of the ticket date. Fill out the back of the ticket and mark off "Deny." Fill out the Mail Adjudication Form giving a brief summary of your defense. Send in this form along with any evidence to support your case, such as receipts or photos, to:

• DMV Adjudication Services

• Attn: Mail Adjudication

• P.O. Box 37135

• Washington, DC 20013

You will receive notification of the hearing examiner's decision within six to eight weeks.

To schedule an in-person hearing for parking tickets only, report to Adjudication Services. You must either be the registered owner or have a Power of Attorney form signed by the registered owner of the vehicle in order to be eligible for a walk-in hearing.

If you happen to be found liable for the violation after you contest your ticket, you have the option of appealing to the Traffic Appeals Board.

How to Contest A Minor Traffic Ticket

Do not submit payment if you plan to contest the ticket. Schedule your hearing within 30 calendar days of the ticket date, or you will be assessed a penalty equal to the fine, and your driving privileges will be suspended. You will get a notice with the date and time of your hearing in the mail.

For minor traffic violations, you do not have the option of a walk-in hearing. You will be required to schedule a hearing date. You can also request a hearing date by reporting to Adjudication Services, Scheduling Unit, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

DMV Adjudication Services is where all scheduled hearings for minor moving violations and photo enforcement violations are held. On your appointed hearing date, you'll need to check in at the hearing intake desk. Give them your hearing notice or your valid driver's license.

To contest a minor moving violation through the mail, simply fill out the back of the ticket and check off "Deny," complete a written hearing request, and submit both to:

• DMV/Adjudication Services

• Attn: Mail Adjudication

• P.O. Box 37135

• Washington, DC 20013

You will be notified by regular mail of the hearing examiner's decision within six to eight weeks.

Just as for a parking ticket, if you are found liable for the violation after you contest your ticket, you have the option of appealing to the Traffic Appeals Board.

How to Contest a Photo Enforcement Ticket

As with a parking ticket or a minor traffic violation, to contest a photo enforcement ticket, your request must be received within 60 calendar days of the date of the traffic ticket. Again, do not submit payment if you plan to contest the ticket.

If your defense for contesting the ticket was that the car was in the control of another person at the time of the violation, the owner of the vehicle must provide an affidavit with the name, address, and driver's license number of the person who was driving at the time.

Failing to schedule your hearing within 30 calendar days of the ticket date will cause you to be assessed a penalty equal to the fine, and your driving privileges will be suspended.

To contest a photo enforcement ticket by mail, return the ticket, with the box marked "I Deny Commission of the Infraction" checked, along with your request for a hearing. Send this to:

• Automated Traffic Enforcement Office

• P.O. Box 37075

• Washington, DC 20013

To schedule an appointment by phone to contest the ticket, call (202) 756-5884 Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. You will receive a hearing notice with the date and time of your hearing in the mail.

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