Paying or Contesting a Traffic Ticket in Maine

The Judicial Branch Violations Bureau handles traffic tickets for the whole state. Tickets can be paid online through the Violations Bureau payment portal, by mail, by phone (1-866-729-8499), or in person at any state courthouse. To contest, follow the directions on the paper ticket or use the online Guide & File service within the time allowed to respond; a Notice of Trial is then mailed, and traffic trials are held remotely by Zoom. Missing the trial without a continuance leads to a default judgment and a fine. Fines after an 'adjudicated' result are due within 30 days unless the judge orders otherwise, and an appeal must be filed within 21 days.

Traffic tickets are paid to the Violations Bureau: online 24/7 through Maine eCourts Traffic Pay (Visa, Mastercard, Discover; 5% convenience fee, $1 minimum), by phone at 1-866-729-8499 (2.89% convenience fee), by check or money order payable to "Treasurer, State of Maine" mailed to Violations Bureau, P.O. Box 480, Lewiston, ME 04243-0480, or in person at any Maine state courthouse. Handwritten tickets may take time to appear online. You have 30 days from the date the decision is entered to pay unless a judge orders otherwise; missing the deadline can lead to license suspension, a $50 late fee per violation and a BMV reinstatement fee.

Completing the Maine Driving Dynamics Course (a five-hour program) or another approved driver improvement course deducts three points from a driver's point total. Anyone may take it, even with no record, but points are deducted only once in any twelve-month period. It does not dismiss the ticket.

Common suspension reasons listed by the BMV include failing to answer a traffic summons or pay a fine (suspended until the appearance is made or fine paid), OUI or refusing a test, driving to endanger (at least 30 days), reaching 12 demerit points, being responsible for accident damage without liability insurance (until proof of insurance is filed), and for drivers under 21 with a provisional license, any moving violation within two years of issue (30 days for a first, 180 days for a second, one year for a third).