Paying or Contesting a Traffic Ticket in Delaware

If the ticket offers a voluntary assessment, you can pay it without going to court (online, by phone, by mail, at a kiosk or in person) in full within 30 days of receiving the ticket; an online payment plan of up to three payments within 90 days may be available. To contest, sign the not-guilty section and mail or fax both sides of the ticket by the court date; this requests a trial and you must appear in court. If no voluntary assessment is offered, you must appear in court on the date shown.

Justice of the Peace Court traffic tickets with a voluntary assessment are paid to the Voluntary Assessment Center (VAC) in full within 30 days of receiving the ticket (no partial payments): online through the state ePayment site (pubsrv.deljis.delaware.gov/epayment) by card or e-check, by phone at 302-739-6911 (Visa, Mastercard or Discover), by mail to State of Delaware - Voluntary Assessment Center, P.O. Box 7039, Dover, DE 19903 (check or money order payable to "State of Delaware" with the ticket number), at a kiosk, or in person at the nearest Justice of the Peace Criminal Court. A three-installment payment plan is available for tickets 30 days old or less through courtpay.delaware.gov. Check the front of the ticket for where to pay or appear.

Completing a DMV-approved defensive driving course can give a 3-point credit used when calculating DMV penalties. It applies only to future violations in certain circumstances, does not remove or reduce existing points or dismiss a ticket, and is valid for three years from completion.

Suspensions and revocations include Problem Driver Program point suspensions, serious speeding (25 mph or more over), DUI and chemical-test refusal, and underage drinking and driving (2 months for a first offense). After a point suspension a reinstatement fee must be paid.