Paying or Contesting a Traffic Ticket in District of Columbia
How to pay, contest or reduce a traffic ticket in District of Columbia, and what happens if you ignore it.
Short answer: DC DMV handles minor moving, parking and photo-enforcement tickets administratively. Do not pay if you want to admit with an explanation or contest the ticket; once paid, the option to adjudicate is gone. DC DMV Respond to a Ticket page; DC DMV Driver Point System Chart
| Paying or fighting a ticket | DC DMV handles minor moving, parking and photo-enforcement tickets administratively. Do not pay if you want to admit with an explanation or contest the ticket; once paid, the option to adjudicate is gone. Adjudication is available online or by mail, and a Ticket Adjudication Ombudsman can help with the process. Failing to pay a moving-violation ticket within the required 60 days results in points being assessed. |
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| Paying or looking up a ticket online | DC DMV handles parking, photo enforcement and minor moving violation tickets. Pay online through DMV's Pay Tickets service (separate links for parking/photo and minor moving tickets) or the DC DMV mobile app by Mastercard, Visa, Discover or American Express (a 2.5 percent service fee applies to online card payments; ACH/e-check is temporarily unavailable online), or in person. If payment is not received within 30 calendar days of the ticket date, a penalty equal to the fine is added. Do not pay if you want to admit with an explanation or contest the ticket, because a paid ticket can no longer be adjudicated. https://dmv.dc.gov/service/respond-ticket |
| Traffic school | For a DC moving violation, a driver may ask a DMV hearing examiner, by contesting the ticket through adjudication by mail and specifically requesting a points waiver, for approval to take a DMV-approved online defensive driving course. Approval is discretionary. If approved, the decision reads 'Liable Traffic School Approved'; the driver must pay the fine within 15 days and finish the course within 30 days. The violation still appears on the record, but the points do not. Source: DC DMV Driver Point System page |
| License suspension | The DMV may suspend or revoke a license for excessive points (90-day suspension at 10–11 points; revocation at 12 or more), delinquent child support (cleared with an Office of Attorney General clearance letter), and major violations such as DUI (a first DUI conviction brings a 6-month revocation and 12 points, with retesting required). Driving while suspended or revoked can bring up to 1 year in jail and/or a fine of up to $5,000. Reinstatement requires clearing all stops and paying a reinstatement fee. |
Where to get help in District of Columbia
More District of Columbia traffic tickets & dui
- Reinstating a Driver's License in District of Columbia
- DUI Laws in District of Columbia
- How Driver Points Work in District of Columbia
- All District of Columbia traffic tickets & dui rules
FAQ
How do you pay or contest a traffic ticket in District of Columbia?
DC DMV handles minor moving, parking and photo-enforcement tickets administratively. Do not pay if you want to admit with an explanation or contest the ticket; once paid, the option to adjudicate is gone. Adjudication is available online or by mail, and a Ticket Adjudication Ombudsman can help with the process. Failing to pay a moving-violation ticket within the required 60 days results in points being assessed.
How do I pay or look up a traffic ticket online in District of Columbia?
DC DMV handles parking, photo enforcement and minor moving violation tickets. Pay online through DMV's Pay Tickets service (separate links for parking/photo and minor moving tickets) or the DC DMV mobile app by Mastercard, Visa, Discover or American Express (a 2.5 percent service fee applies to online card payments; ACH/e-check is temporarily unavailable online), or in person. If payment is not received within 30 calendar days of the ticket date, a penalty equal to the fine is added. Do not pay if you want to admit with an explanation or contest the ticket, because a paid ticket can no longer be adjudicated.
Can traffic school remove a ticket or points in District of Columbia?
For a DC moving violation, a driver may ask a DMV hearing examiner, by contesting the ticket through adjudication by mail and specifically requesting a points waiver, for approval to take a DMV-approved online defensive driving course. Approval is discretionary. If approved, the decision reads 'Liable Traffic School Approved'; the driver must pay the fine within 15 days and finish the course within 30 days. The violation still appears on the record, but the points do not.
What gets your license suspended in District of Columbia?
The DMV may suspend or revoke a license for excessive points (90-day suspension at 10–11 points; revocation at 12 or more), delinquent child support (cleared with an Office of Attorney General clearance letter), and major violations such as DUI (a first DUI conviction brings a 6-month revocation and 12 points, with retesting required). Driving while suspended or revoked can bring up to 1 year in jail and/or a fine of up to $5,000. Reinstatement requires clearing all stops and paying a reinstatement fee.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.