Citations or traffic tickets are issued in the State of Idaho for various violations of traffic law. Citations generally indicate the statute or code number of the violation, and explain how and when to pay the fine or respond to the ticket. You must respond to a citation, usually by paying a fine or appearing in court, or else a warrant may be issued for your arrest and your driving license may be suspended.

[edit] TYPES OF VIOLATIONS

Most traffic tickets in Idaho are issued for what are sometimes called "strict-liability" offenses. In these cases, the only thing required to convict a person of the offense is proof that they committed the act, regardless of any criminal intent. Examples of strict-liability offenses include:

• Speeding
• Overdue parking meters
• Not using turn signals
• Parking in a handicapped zone without authorization

[edit] MOVING VS. NON-MOVING VIOLATIONS

Violations are also classified by whether or not the vehicle was in motion at the type of the incident, and traffic tickets may therefore be for either moving or non-moving violations. Examples of moving violations include:

• Speeding or driving below the minimum speed
• Running a stop sign or red light
• Driving without a seat belt
• Drunk driving (DUI and DWI)

Non-Moving violations include:

• Parking in a handicapped zone or other illegal parking
• Driving with an invalid vehicle registration
• Having expired or missing license plates
• Leaving a vehicle unattended and running

The majority of traffic violations in Idaho are classified as infractions, which require paying a fine ranging from $10 to $100. More serious offenses carry higher fines and/or imprisonment. The Idaho Supreme Court has fixed the rate for the penalties and as a result no court can change or alter the penalty.

[edit] YOUR OPTIONS WHEN YOU RECEIVE A CITATION

Many citations do not require a court appearance, and you may admit guilt by paying the ticket directly. The citation will indicate how and by what date to pay the fine. Misdemeanors are handled in the county court where you received your ticket. Once you are given the penalty, you will have to stay in court till you pay the amount (including court costs). If you are unable to do this, you will have to serve time in jail (assessed at $5 a day) till the full penalty is paid. Most courts allow you to do community service in lieu of payment. The state considers infractions civic public offenses rather than major traffic crimes. You will have to sign at the bottom of the ticket for either offence, promising that you will appear in court. This is by no means an admission of guilt, but rather an acknowledgement. If you refuse to sign, the officer will deliver the ticket to you personally. For an infraction, you can admit guilt by either paying in the court or by mailing the amount to the court clerk. As infractions are civil offenses, you cannot have a trial in front of a jury. The court at the same time cannot prosecute you if you fail to appear on the scheduled day. It can, however, pass the verdict for the fixed penalty for your offense. If you wish to dispute the citation, you must appear in court personally on the scheduled date, and enter a "not guilty" plea. While you may be able to negotiate with the prosecuting attorney, a trial will be scheduled if no agreement is reached. A trial gives you an opportunity to fight the traffic ticket in front of a judge or jury, and most people prefer to hire a traffic ticket lawyer to defend them in court.

[edit] THE IMPLICATIONS OF BEING FOUND GUILTY

When you pay a ticket directly, you are essentially pleading guilty to a traffic offense, which carries the same consequences as being found guilty of the violation in court. Motorists who either plead guilty directly or are found guilty of an offense should be aware of the following possible consequences:

• Certain traffic offenses, including speeding and other moving violations, are automatically reported to the Idaho Department of Transportation's Driver Services Division. Idaho routinely provides information concerning traffic ticket convictions to other states.
• The Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles follows a point system to track violations and their corresponding penalties. Points are added to your driving record which could result in your license being suspended. For more information, see our Point System section.
• Idaho drivers that accumulate points on their driving record are often subject to higher car insurance premiums.

[edit] WHAT TO DO ABOUT TRAFFIC TICKET CONVICTIONS

One of the best ways to reduce the negative implications of traffic violations is to drive safely and not commit any additional offenses. Points on your Idaho license will be reduced, and your driving record may eventually be cleared if you remain free of any additional violations. Smart drivers often choose to take a defensive driving course or traffic school course in order to reduce the points on their license more quickly. Taking a defensive driving course can also help lower the car insurance premiums of drivers whose rates increased following one or more traffic ticket convictions. Some drivers prefer to obtain a new quote for car insurance following a traffic ticket conviction, since often more competitive rates and coverage may be available.

[edit] ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• See Paying Traffic Tickets in Idaho for more information on how to pay your tickets.
• See also Traffic Ticket Lawyers and DUI Lawyers if you are considering fighting your ticket.
• See also Idaho Car Insurance.