Paying or Contesting a Traffic Ticket in Indiana
How to pay, contest or reduce a traffic ticket in Indiana, and what happens if you ignore it.
Short answer: Traffic tickets are handled by the court where the ticket is filed, and procedures vary by county. Failing to appear in court in response to a citation, or not paying after a judgment, may lead to suspension of driving privileges; Indiana Driver's Manual, Chapter 5
| Paying or fighting a ticket | Traffic tickets are handled by the court where the ticket is filed, and procedures vary by county. Failing to appear in court in response to a citation, or not paying after a judgment, may lead to suspension of driving privileges; the court notifies the BMV to end the suspension once the driver appears or pays. The suspension can be stayed by filing SR-22 proof of future financial responsibility for the suspension period. Contact the court listed on the ticket for payment options, deadlines and how to plead not guilty; no statewide court self-help page with these details was read. |
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| Paying or looking up a ticket online | The Indiana Judicial Branch's online services include a Pay Traffic Ticket tool (public.courts.in.gov/pay) and the MyCase case search (mycase.in.gov). Information on these sites is not an official court record; official records come from the court that maintains the case. Pay: https://public.courts.in.gov/Pay |
| Traffic school | Any Indiana driver may take a BMV-approved Driver Safety Program (at least four hours; classroom, DVD or online; maximum cost $55) and receive a 4-point credit, once every three years. It does not remove the citation from the record. Courts may also order a driver safety program, but the point credit applies only for a BMV-approved course. Some county prosecutors run infraction deferral programs with local eligibility rules. |
| License suspension | Suspensions include failing to complete a required Driver Safety Program within 90 days, failure to appear or pay on a ticket, driving without required insurance (or not providing proof when the BMV requests it), operating while intoxicated and chemical-test failure or refusal, delinquent child support, and paying the BMV with dishonored funds. Habitual traffic violators can face 10-year or lifetime suspensions. |
Where to get help in Indiana
More Indiana traffic tickets & dui
- Reinstating a Driver's License in Indiana
- DUI Laws in Indiana
- How Driver Points Work in Indiana
- All Indiana traffic tickets & dui rules
FAQ
How do you pay or contest a traffic ticket in Indiana?
Traffic tickets are handled by the court where the ticket is filed, and procedures vary by county. Failing to appear in court in response to a citation, or not paying after a judgment, may lead to suspension of driving privileges; the court notifies the BMV to end the suspension once the driver appears or pays. The suspension can be stayed by filing SR-22 proof of future financial responsibility for the suspension period.
How do I pay or look up a traffic ticket online in Indiana?
The Indiana Judicial Branch's online services include a Pay Traffic Ticket tool (public.courts.in.gov/pay) and the MyCase case search (mycase.in.gov). Information on these sites is not an official court record; official records come from the court that maintains the case.
Can traffic school remove a ticket or points in Indiana?
Any Indiana driver may take a BMV-approved Driver Safety Program (at least four hours; classroom, DVD or online; maximum cost $55) and receive a 4-point credit, once every three years. It does not remove the citation from the record. Courts may also order a driver safety program, but the point credit applies only for a BMV-approved course. Some county prosecutors run infraction deferral programs with local eligibility rules.
What gets your license suspended in Indiana?
Suspensions include failing to complete a required Driver Safety Program within 90 days, failure to appear or pay on a ticket, driving without required insurance (or not providing proof when the BMV requests it), operating while intoxicated and chemical-test failure or refusal, delinquent child support, and paying the BMV with dishonored funds. Habitual traffic violators can face 10-year or lifetime suspensions.
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.