Citations or traffic tickets are issued in the State of New Jersey for various violations of traffic law. 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.

If you wish to dispute the citation, you must appear in court personally on the scheduled date, and enter a "not guilty" plea. Appearing in court 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. For more information on how to dispute a traffic ticket in New Jersey, see our general section on Traffic Tickets and Violations.

PAYING A TRAFFIC TICKET - WHAT IT MEANS

When you pay a ticket, you are essentially pleading guilty to a traffic offense. Motorists should be aware that receiving and paying a traffic citation could result in higher car insurance rates and points on your driving record. Your license may be suspended if you accumulate too many points on your driving record.

HOW TO PAY THE FINE

If you decide to plead guilty to a traffic violation, there are several ways to pay the ticket. Generally, the back of the citation will clearly indicate the deadlines and options for answering the ticket. Usually, you must act within fifteen days of receiving a traffic ticket to avoid additional fines and possible suspension of your license.

1. Pay online. Most traffic tickets can be answered and paid online using a credit or debit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover). Visit the New Jersey Municipal Courts online payment site.
2. Pay by mail. Read the instructions on the back of the ticket carefully, then check the "Guilty" box and sign the ticket. Enclose a check or money order for the amount indicated on the ticket and mail to the court where your ticket is answerable. Be sure to retain a copy of the citation for your personal records.
3. Pay in person. You can pay your traffic tickets at the municipal court where your ticket is answerable. Bring the citation with you, along with the payment.

PLEADING NOT GUILTY

If you decide to plead not guilty and dispute the ticket, read the instructions on the back of the ticket carefully. The instructions will generally indicate when and how to plead not guilty, and information about appearing in court to dispute your ticket. See our general section on Traffic Tickets and Violations for more information about how to dispute a traffic ticket in New Jersey.

DISMISSAL OF CHARGES

Remember that you cannot be found guilty of committing a traffic offense unless there is clear, accurate and convincing evidence that you committed the violation. Charges may be dismissed in court if the citation includes vague or incorrect information. For instance, vehicle information, time, location and circumstances must all be indicated correctly on the ticket. Many motorists choose to consult with a traffic ticket attorney to help them evaluate the validity of the ticket, and whether or not it is likely to be dismissed in court.

LOST TICKETS

If you lost a traffic ticket after receiving it, you must contact the municipal court where the ticket is answerable. If you have your ticket number, you can access your traffic ticket information online at the New Jersey Judiciary's NJMCdirect site.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• For more information on how to handle your traffic tickets consult our Traffic Tickets and Violations and Traffic Ticket Attorneys pages.