How to Pay a Traffic Ticket

A police officer, her car, a traffic ticket
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It's never fun looking in the rear-view mirror only to see flashing red and blue lights following you. Depending on where you receive the ticket, you may have several ways you can pay the fine and put the experience behind you. Although each location has its own rules for how traffic tickets can be paid, common methods include paying online, over the phone, by mail or in-person.

Many Options Available

Many law enforcement agencies accept payments online. Payment through the Internet is often a convenient way to pay traffic tickets because you can access the system regardless of your location. Note that there may be a minimal charge for using the service. Many jurisdictions also allow you to pay tickets with your credit card over the phone. If you don't want to pay your ticket online or by phone, you usually can pay it by mailing a check or money order to the court clerk's office. If you want to pay with cash, this usually requires an in-person visit to the courthouse or sheriff's office where you received the ticket.