Paying or Contesting a Traffic Ticket in Alabama

Tickets are handled by the court listed on the citation. Some charges require a court appearance; others can be resolved before the court date through resolve.alacourt.gov. Payment can be made online at AlaPay.com, by phone at 1-877-252-7294, in person or by mail to the circuit clerk. Paying is a guilty plea. To contest, plead not guilty and request a trial date through RESOLVE. If a ticket is not paid or resolved before the court date and the driver does not appear, the driver may face a late fee, license suspension and an arrest warrant.

The Alabama Traffic Service Center (Administrative Office of Courts) handles statewide ticket help. Use RESOLVE (resolve.alacourt.gov) to see whether a ticket can be resolved before the court date; if not, you must appear in court. Pay online at www.AlaPay.com, by phone at 1-877-252-7294 (credit cards, 24/7), in person at the circuit clerk's window, or by mail to the circuit clerk's office. A late fee applies for failing to appear. Questions: 1-866-954-9399 or traffic@alacourt.gov.

A driver can use the state's online traffic system (RESOLVE) to ask the court for permission to attend defensive driving school; the court decides and provides sign-up information. Paying the ticket ends the chance to request driving school. Pike, Calhoun, Randolph and Bullock counties do not offer defensive driving school.

ALEA lists reasons for suspension including accumulating points, failing to answer a traffic summons on time or failing to pay, failing to keep required SR-22 insurance, non-payment of child support, a first DUI, racing, and eluding police. Revocation is required for offenses such as a second or later DUI, vehicular homicide, a felony involving a vehicle, and leaving an injury or fatal crash. Reinstatement requires a fee of at least $100 plus any other requirements; extra fees apply for late license surrender ($50), drug-related convictions ($25) and child-support suspensions ($50). For ticket-related suspensions, the circuit clerk issues a clearance letter to submit to ALEA after the ticket is resolved.