Pay Traffic Ticket in Montana

SUMMARY: How to Pay a Montana Traffic Ticket

Depending on the Montana court handling your traffic ticket, you may be able to pay it online, by mail, or in person. For specific instructions, refer to your MT ticket or contact the traffic court shown on your citation.

Continue reading for information on paying Montana traffic tickets.

Pay Ticket
(Plead Guilty or No Contest)

Learn more by reading below.

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 guilty, but must pay court/attorney fees.

Learn more about
Fighting Your Traffic Ticket »

What It Means to Pay Your MT Traffic Ticket

In Montana, paying your traffic ticket is an admission of guilt.

This means:

  • You have waived your right to a trial in court.
  • Points will be added to your MT driving record.
    • The more severe the traffic offense, the higher the point total.
    • Depending on your point total, the state may suspend your Montana driver's license.
  • Your car insurance providermight increase in your auto insurancepremiums.

Usually, traffic violations stay on your driving record for life. However, depending on your situation, your judge might allow you to complete a defensive driving course for ticket dismissal. Such a course might look good in the eyes of your insurance provider.

Unless your traffic ticket requests a mandatory court appearance, you can pay your ticket

  • Online (court-dependent).
  • By mail.
  • In person.

You'll need your traffic ticket to pay your fine. If you've misplaced your citation, head over to Lost Traffic Tickets in Montana for details on how to retrieve the information.

You must pay by the appearance date posted on your traffic citation will result in the suspension of your MT driver's license and possibly a bench warrant for your arrest.

Pleading Guilty as a CDL Driver

CDL holders often face stiffer penalties for traffic violations in Montana. In addition to reporting the violation to your employer, you might have your CDL suspended for a certain period of time or even revoked for life.

Refer to the Montana Commercial Driver License Manual for details.

How to Pay Your Montana Traffic Ticket

Depending on where you got the ticket—and whether your ticket states you're required to appear in court—you can pay your MT traffic ticket fine online, by mail, or in person.

Online

Currently, most MT courts offer the option to pay traffic ticket fines online using CitePay USA.

The website provides a list of courts that allow online payments. Choose your court and follow the prompts from there.

By Mail

To pay your ticket fine by mail, send your traffic ticket to the court address listed on your ticket.

In Person

You must visit the court listed on your traffic ticket to pay your fine in person.

MT Traffic School & Tickets

As mentioned above, traffic violations stay on your driving record for life.

However, depending on your court and specific situation, your judge MIGHT allow you to complete a state-approved defensive driving course for ticket dismissal.

Be sure to ask your judge about this option.

Check Your Driving Record

Whether you decide to plead “guilty" and pay your fine or fight your traffic ticket in court and are found guilty, a traffic conviction alters your Montana driving record.

When it's all said and done, check your driving record to make sure it shows only:

  • Traffic violations for which you pleaded or were found guilty.
    • Generally, these violations should not appear IF your judge let you complete a driving course for ticket dismissal.
  • The number of points associated with your violations(s).
    • Typically, these points won't appear IF your judge let you complete a driving school for ticket dismissal.

Car Insurance Rates & MT Traffic Tickets

Although the state does not notify car insurance companies of traffic violations, your MT driving record is open for review. Should your provider detect a traffic infraction on your driving record, you could see a spike in your auto insurance premiums.

If your rates become unaffordable, take the time to shop around for a new provider by comparing insurance rates online from different car insurance companies.

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