Lost Traffic Ticket in New Jersey

Contact the presiding traffic court to find information about your lost traffic ticket in New Jersey. Be sure to ask about specific details such as your ticket prefix and number, the complaint number, court identification, the violation fine, and the deadline to make your plea as this information will help you respond to your ticket on time.

Contact the NJ Traffic Court

Most likely, you'll have the best luck during your traffic ticket search by contacting the presiding traffic court. By "presiding," we mean the court that handles traffic citations in the area where you received the ticket.

Often, municipal courts or county courts handle NJ traffic tickets; however, the court in charge of your ticket might depend on your specific traffic violation and—again—where you were located. The New Jersey Judiciary provides lists of statewide courts; use this list to find your court's contact information.

However, if you DON'T KNOW which traffic court is handling your citation, you'll have to do some investigating. Need ideas on how to find your presiding court? Try these tips:

  • Start with your home city or county. You probably do the most driving in these areas.
  • No luck? Start branching out to courts in neighboring cities and counties.
  • Try to remember the type of officer who pulled you over. If you can remember whether it was a city, county, or state police officer, you might be able to contact that dispatch for details.
  • Think about popular landmarks you might remember seeing. For example, were you near a museum? A park or zoo? An amusement park?
  • Ask any passengers who were riding along that day if they remember where you driving when you received the citation.

Lost Traffic Ticket Details

Regardless of how you choose to respond to your traffic ticket, you must do so by the deadline printed on your citation; otherwise, you face additional penalties.

You'll need the following crucial details from your NJ traffic ticket to respond on time:

  • Whether you're required to appear in court.
    • Not all violations require a court appearance. Your ticket might be marked "Notice to Appear," but this doesn't necessarily mean you must appear. Generally, "Notice to Appear" is the date by which you must respond. However, if your ticket is marked "Court Appearance Required," you must appear in court.
    • If your NJ traffic ticket is marked "Court Appearance Required," ask for the court's address as well as the date and time.
  • If you're not required to appear in court, find out your deadline to respond to your ticket.
    • This means your deadline for pleading "guilty" and paying or pleading "not guilty" and scheduling a court date.
  • Find out your exact traffic ticket fine and another other associated fees and surcharges.
  • Make note of your traffic ticket details.
    • Information such as your violation, when and where you received the ticket, and the name of the officer who issued the citation will help you—and possibly a traffic ticket attorney—determine how to plead.
    • Also (especially if you're eligible to pay online) you'll need citation details such as the court identification number, the ticket prefix, and the ticket number.
  • Ask about the payment options for which you're eligible.
    • Most courts allow you to pay online, by mail, or in person. Be sure to ask about payment methods such as credit cards, personal checks, and cash.

Respond to Your NJ Traffic Ticket

Now it's time to determine how you want to plead to your NJ traffic ticket.

Generally, New Jersey allows “guilty" pleas (you must pay all fines and fees) and "not guilty" pleas (you must schedule a hearing and make your case in court), and we explain each process—including the advantages and disadvantages—in our Paying Traffic Tickets and Fighting Traffic Tickets sections.

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