In Missouri, you can generally pay your ticket fines online, by mail, by phone, or in person. You can also fight your ticket or ask the court to reduce your fine. Be sure to respond to your traffic ticket within 30 days or you could face additional penalties, such as a license suspension.
FINES & PENALTIES
Traffic fines in Missouri vary by court. If you do not pay on time, you will be charged additional late fees. Refer to your traffic ticket to determine your exact ticket amount, deadlines, and penalties.
Missouri's Department of Revenue (DOR) may suspend or revoke your driver’s license if you accumulate the following points within these time periods.
| Points | Suspension Length | Revocation Length |
|---|
| 8 within 18 months | 30 Days | |
| 60 Days (2nd suspension) | |
| 90 Days (3 or more suspensions) | |
| 12 within 12 months | | 1-year |
| 18 within 18 months | | 1-year |
| 24 within 24 months | | 1-year |
Some major violations include:
- Reckless driving.
- Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol.
- Not carrying adequate car insurance.
POINTS FOR VARIOUS TRAFFIC TICKET VIOLATIONS
| Violation | Points |
|---|
| Speeding ticket issued by state police officer | 3 |
| Speeding ticket issued by county or municipal police officer | 2 |
| Running a red light | 2 |
| Careless and imprudent driving | 2 |
| Failure to maintain a single lane | 2 |
| Following too closely | 2 |
| Not carrying adequate car insurance | 4 |
| No Driver's License | 2 |
| Failure to Yield Right-of-Way | 2 |
| Driving While Suspended | 12 |
| Full list of points and violations located here |
|---|
MOVING VIOLATIONS
A moving violation occurs whenever a traffic law is violated by a vehicle in motion. Some examples of moving violations are speeding, running a stop sign or red light, and drunk driving. A non-moving violation, by contrast, is usually related to parking or faulty equipment.
RESPONDING TO YOUR TICKET
There are three ways to respond to your traffic ticket:
- Pay the ticket
- Pay the ticket and enroll in the Driver Improvement Program (DIP)
- Request a contested hearing
Regardless of the plea, it must be entered before the ticket's due date which is 30 days from the infraction date.
The first two options are guilty pleas, while the third (requesting a contested hearing) is equivalent to pleading not guilty.
Pay the ticket
Paying a Missouri traffic ticket is an admission of guilt.
This means:
- You are waiving your right to challenge the traffic ticket in court.
- Depending on your MO driving record, the Department of Revenue (DOR) may suspend your Missouri driver's license.
- The traffic violation may cause an increase in your car insurance rates.
Pay the ticket and enroll in the Driver Improvement Program (DIP)
Not all counties in Missouri offer the DIP as an option to drivers. See here if you're eligible.
If you're eligible then you can take DIP course to the avoid the points to your driving record. You still must pay the fine and admit guilt.
Requesting a contested hearing
If you want to plead “not guilty" to the violation, you can request a contested hearing at the relevant county court by checking the appropriate check box on your ticket and then mailing it in to the court. You can also contest it right on your phone by using the Off The Record app.
Only 5% of drivers contest their traffic tickets.
HIRING AN ATTORNEY
Fighting your traffic ticket can help you avoid fines, license suspension, and increased insurance premiums. A traffic ticket attorney is a major asset in that fight. Typically, you can expect an attorney to:
- Handle all the paperwork
- Represent you in court
- Negotiate with the prosecutor to have your charges dropped or reduced
