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Lost Traffic Ticket in West Virginia
Determine Where You Got Your WV Traffic Ticket
You need to contact the court that was listed on your West Virginia traffic ticket.
If you don't recall the court, try to remember the place where you were ticketed. You don't need the exact street location; either a town or a county will suffice.
Contact the Court
West Virginia traffic tickets are handled by Municipal Courts and Magistrate Courts.
Recalling the citing law enforcement agency will help with pinpointing which court to call. If you were cited by a town police officer, call the Municipality Court―in many towns and cities, these are called town halls and you can find a telephone number for yours in your local listings.
If you were ticketed by the Sheriffs Department or the Highway Patrol, call the Magistrate Court.
The court clerk will explain how to proceed with entering your plea.
Determine How You Will Plead
In West Virginia you have three plea options:
Act fast. Tickets are time sensitive. The court will not accept "I lost my traffic ticket" as a worthy excuse.
Failing to submit the plea before the citation's listed court date will result in the suspension of your WV driver's license and possibly a bench warrant being issued for your arrest.
Pay Ticket
(Plead Guilty or No Contest)- Pay the fine
- Option to plea bargain penalties.
- Incur points on your driving record (could lead to license suspension/revocation).
- Possibly incur increase on auto insurance rates.
- Possibly have points reduced by attending a Defensive Driving Course (DDC).
Learn more about
Pay Traffic Ticket.Fight Ticket
(Plead Not Guilty)- Contest traffic ticket via trial.
- Choose to represent yourself or hire an attorney.
- Possibly lose option to plea bargain for lesser penalties.
- No penalties if found not guilty, but must pay court/attorney fees.
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