Depending on the type of traffic ticket you received, you can generally pay your ticket fines online, by mail, or in person. You can also fight your ticket to reduce fines and penalities. Be sure to respond to your traffic ticket within 10 days, or you could face additional penalties, such as a license suspension.
FINES & PENALTIES
Traffic fines in Pennsylvania vary. If you do not pay on time, your license will be suspended and a warrant may be issued. Refer to your traffic ticket to determine your exact ticket amount, deadlines, and penalties.
Pennsylvania's Department of Transportation (DOT) operates under a driving record point system. Pennsylvania has a strict policy when it comes to license suspension. If you receive 6 points or more, your license might be up for suspension:
| Points | Mandatory PennDOT appearance | Duration |
|---|
| 6+ (first time) | No | If you don't pass an exam within 30 days, your license will be suspended indefinitely until you pass. 2 points will be removed upon passing the exam. |
| 6+ (second time) | Yes | Failure to appear results in immediate suspension. Upon appearing, hearing officer may suspend your license up to 15 days and require to pass a behind-the-wheel exam. 2 points will be removed upon passing the exam. |
| 6+ (third time or more) | Yes | Failure to appear results in immediate suspension. Upon appearing, hearing officer may suspend your license up to 30 days and require to pass a behind-the-wheel exam. |
| If you receive 11 points or more, your license will be suspended as follows: |
|---|
| Points | Past suspensions | Duration |
|---|
| 11+ | 0 | 5 days per 1 point |
| 11+ | 1 | 10 days per 1 point |
| 11+ | 2 | 15 days per 1 point |
| 11+ | 3+ | 1 year |
Some criminal traffic offenses include:
- Reckless driving.
- Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol.
POINTS FOR VARIOUS TRAFFIC TICKET VIOLATIONS
| Violation | Points | Suspension |
|---|
| Speeding 1 to 5 MPH over the limit | 0 | |
| Speeding 6 to 10 MPH over the limit | 2 | |
| Speeding 11 to 15 MPH over the limit | 3 | 15 days if in a work zone |
| Speeding 16 to 25 MPH over the limit | 4 | 15 days if in a work zone |
| Speeding 26 to 30 MPH over the limit | 5 | 15 days if in a work zone |
| Speeding 31+ MPH over the limit | 5 (departmental appearance required) | 15 days if in a work zone |
| Failure to Stop for a Red Light/Stop Sign/Yield Sign | 3 | |
| Improper Turning Around | 3 | |
| Careless Driving | 3 | |
| Failure to Stop for a School Bus | 5 | 60 days |
TRAFFIC SCHOOL
You cannot reduce any points on your driving record by attending traffic school.
You'll need to contact the court to see if you're eligible to take traffic school. The following may apply to you:
- Earn a car insurance discount
- Dismiss a traffic ticket
- Satisfy a court requirement
There doesn't seem to be a list of approved traffic school courses available online. Please contact PennDOT.
RESPONDING TO YOUR TICKET
There are two ways to respond to your traffic ticket:
- Paying the fine
- Requesting a contested hearing
Regardless of plea, it must be entered before the ticket's due date. In most cases, this will generally be about 10 days from the infraction date.
Pay the ticket
Paying a Pennsylvania traffic ticket is an admission of guilt.
This means:
- You are waiving your right to challenge the traffic ticket in court.
- Depending on your PA driving record, the PennDOT may suspend your Pennsylvania driver's license.
- The traffic violation may cause an increase in your car insurance rates.
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 signing your name on the "not guilty" line of the citation 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 A TRAFFIC TICKET LAWYER
Fighting your traffic ticket can help you avoid fines, license suspension, and increased insurance premiums. A traffic ticket lawyer is a major asset in that fight. Typically, you can expect an attorney to:
- Request a contested hearing
- Represent you in court
- Negotiate with the police officer to have your charges dropped or reduced
