Depending on the type of Utah traffic ticket you received, 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 Utah 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.
Utah's Department of Public Safety (DPS) operates under a driving record point system. Depending on the number of points you receive within 3 years and your age, your license will be suspended as follows
Driver's Age Points Suspension Length Under 21 years of age 70 or more points 1 month to 1 year 21 years of age or older 200 or more points 3 months to 1 year
Some major violations include:
- Reckless driving.
- Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol.
POINTS FOR VARIOUS TRAFFIC TICKET VIOLATIONS
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding 1-10 mph over the limit | 35 |
| Speeding 11-20 mph over the limit | 55 |
| Speeding 21+ mph over the limit | 75 |
| Failure to Yield Right-of-Way | 60 |
| Following Too Close | 60 |
| Wrong Way on a One-Way Street | 60 |
| Impeding Traffic | 50 |
| Red light | 50 |
| Stop sign | 50 |
| Improper lookout | 50 |
| Improper passing | 50 |
| Improper turn | 50 |
| Negligent collision | 50 |
| Texting while driving | 50 |
| Reckless Driving | 80 |
| Careless Driving | 50 |
| Other moving violations | 40 |
SAFE DRIVING PROGRAM
You can clear your own driving record by driving safe. When you drive 1 year without a moving traffic violation conviction, half the demerit points will be removed from your driving record.
If you complete a driver improvement course recommended by a Division Hearing Officer then 50 points may be removed from your driving record. Contact the court in the area in which you received the traffic ticket to ask if it has a list of approved courses or programs.
If you drive 2 consecutive years without a conviction, all points will be removed. Points for individual convictions are automatically removed from your record three years after the date of the violation.
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 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 be about 30 days from the infraction date.
Pay the ticket
Paying a Utah traffic ticket is an admission of guilt.
This means:
- You are waiving your right to challenge the traffic ticket in court.
- Depending on your UT driving record, the DPS may suspend your Utah 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 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:
- Request a contested hearing
- Request discovery for your case
- Represent you in court
- Negotiate with the prosecutor to have your charges dropped or reduced
Plea in Abeyance (P.I.A)
Our network of attorneys lookout for a Plea in Abeyance opportunity for your traffic ticket. A Plea in Abeyance says that you are guilty, but the points are not reported to the Utah Driver License Division and not assessed against your allowable 200 points so your license does not get suspended. If you successfully complete the probation for 6 to 12 months, the traffic ticket is dismissed.