Paying or Contesting a Traffic Ticket in Michigan
How to pay, contest or reduce a traffic ticket in Michigan, and what happens if you ignore it.
Short answer: A person who receives a civil infraction citation must respond by the time stated on the citation. They may admit responsibility (in person, by representation or by mail), admit responsibility 'with explanation,' or deny responsibility by appearing at an informal hearing (or a formal… MCL 257.745; Secretary of State, What Every Driver Must Know
| Paying or fighting a ticket | A person who receives a civil infraction citation must respond by the time stated on the citation. They may admit responsibility (in person, by representation or by mail), admit responsibility 'with explanation,' or deny responsibility by appearing at an informal hearing (or a formal hearing if requested). If a traffic ticket is not taken care of, the driver's license will in most cases be suspended. |
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| Paying or looking up a ticket online | Some Michigan district courts let you pay civil infraction tickets and misdemeanor cases by credit card through the Michigan Courts ePAY system; the site being unavailable does not release you from answering the ticket or case by the due date. If your court does not participate, contact the court named on your ticket. Source: Michigan Courts ePAY |
| Traffic school | An eligible driver who completes a Basic Driver Improvement Course (BDIC) within 60 days after the Secretary of State's eligibility notice will not have the points for that moving violation entered on the record, and the violation is not reported to insurers. The conviction is not dismissed. Drivers are not eligible if the violation carries 4 or more points, involved a commercial vehicle or CDL holder, more than one violation was cited in the same incident, they already have 3 or more points, they have taken a BDIC before, or their license is restricted, suspended or revoked. The course fee may not exceed $100. Source: MCL 257.320d |
| License suspension | Suspension reasons include not taking care of a traffic ticket (most cases), reexamination after 12 or more points in two years, OWI and related convictions, test refusal, and drug convictions even if not driving (six months for a first drug conviction, with no restricted license for the first 30 days; one year with prior drug convictions in seven years). Tickets for moving violations received while suspended add more suspensions and a reinstatement fee. |
Where to get help in Michigan
More Michigan traffic tickets & dui
- Reinstating a Driver's License in Michigan
- DUI Laws in Michigan
- How Driver Points Work in Michigan
- All Michigan traffic tickets & dui rules
FAQ
How do you pay or contest a traffic ticket in Michigan?
A person who receives a civil infraction citation must respond by the time stated on the citation. They may admit responsibility (in person, by representation or by mail), admit responsibility 'with explanation,' or deny responsibility by appearing at an informal hearing (or a formal hearing if requested). If a traffic ticket is not taken care of, the driver's license will in most cases be suspended.
How do I pay or look up a traffic ticket online in Michigan?
Some Michigan district courts let you pay civil infraction tickets and misdemeanor cases by credit card through the Michigan Courts ePAY system; the site being unavailable does not release you from answering the ticket or case by the due date. If your court does not participate, contact the court named on your ticket.
Can traffic school remove a ticket or points in Michigan?
An eligible driver who completes a Basic Driver Improvement Course (BDIC) within 60 days after the Secretary of State's eligibility notice will not have the points for that moving violation entered on the record, and the violation is not reported to insurers. The conviction is not dismissed. Drivers are not eligible if the violation carries 4 or more points, involved a commercial vehicle or CDL holder, more than one violation was cited in the same incident, they already have 3 or more points, they have taken a BDIC before, or their license is restricted, suspended or revoked. The course fee may not exceed $100.
What gets your license suspended in Michigan?
Suspension reasons include not taking care of a traffic ticket (most cases), reexamination after 12 or more points in two years, OWI and related convictions, test refusal, and drug convictions even if not driving (six months for a first drug conviction, with no restricted license for the first 30 days; one year with prior drug convictions in seven years). Tickets for moving violations received while suspended add more suspensions and 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.