Paying or Contesting a Traffic Ticket in Pennsylvania
How to pay, contest or reduce a traffic ticket in Pennsylvania, and what happens if you ignore it.
Short answer: Traffic citations are handled by the magisterial district courts (or courts of common pleas). Fines and costs can be paid online through the Unified Judicial System's PAePay system, but paying a traffic citation online enters a guilty plea. UJS Web Portal Help, PAePay Traffic Tickets or Court Costs; PA Driver's Manual ch. 4
| Paying or fighting a ticket | Traffic citations are handled by the magisterial district courts (or courts of common pleas). Fines and costs can be paid online through the Unified Judicial System's PAePay system, but paying a traffic citation online enters a guilty plea. A driver who wants to contest the ticket pleads not guilty and attends a hearing, where they can present their arguments. The plea deadline is printed on the citation; a statewide deadline for traffic citations was not confirmed from an official page read. Failing to respond to a citation can lead to a license suspension. |
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| Paying or looking up a ticket online | Pay traffic tickets and court costs owed to Pennsylvania's Magisterial District and Common Pleas courts online through PAePay on the UJS Portal (Pay Online > Traffic Ticket or Court Costs). Only obligations approved for online payment appear. A non-refundable 2.75% service fee applies to each transaction; Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and ATM cards are accepted; the maximum applied to fines, costs and restitution is $2,500 per transaction. Cases with limited access cannot be paid online; contact the court where the case was filed. |
| Traffic school | PennDOT's Driver Improvement School is only for drivers required to attend because of point accumulation or excessive speeding (31+ mph over); it is not a way to dismiss a ticket. On a first accumulation of 6 points, completing the school removes 4 points (passing the written point exam instead removes 2). On a second or later accumulation, 2 points are removed after the sanctions are completed. No points are removed for the school after an excessive-speeding hearing. The course is six hours and requires passing an exam with at least 80%, online or in person. |
| License suspension | Grounds include points (automatic suspension at 11 points), DUI, chemical test refusal, failing to respond to a citation, and driving without insurance (if a vehicle was uninsured 31 days or more, the registration is suspended three months, and the driving privilege is also suspended three months if the owner drove or allowed it to be driven). Before restoration, the driver must serve the suspension, show payment of fines and costs and proof of insurance, and pay a restoration fee. A suspension can be appealed to the county Court of Common Pleas within 30 days of the notice's mailing date. |
Where to get help in Pennsylvania
More Pennsylvania traffic tickets & dui
- Reinstating a Driver's License in Pennsylvania
- DUI Laws in Pennsylvania
- How Driver Points Work in Pennsylvania
- All Pennsylvania traffic tickets & dui rules
FAQ
How do you pay or contest a traffic ticket in Pennsylvania?
Traffic citations are handled by the magisterial district courts (or courts of common pleas). Fines and costs can be paid online through the Unified Judicial System's PAePay system, but paying a traffic citation online enters a guilty plea. A driver who wants to contest the ticket pleads not guilty and attends a hearing, where they can present their arguments.
How do I pay or look up a traffic ticket online in Pennsylvania?
Pay traffic tickets and court costs owed to Pennsylvania's Magisterial District and Common Pleas courts online through PAePay on the UJS Portal (Pay Online > Traffic Ticket or Court Costs). Only obligations approved for online payment appear. A non-refundable 2.75% service fee applies to each transaction; Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and ATM cards are accepted; the maximum applied to fines, costs and restitution is $2,500 per transaction. Cases with limited access cannot be paid online; contact the court where the case was filed.
Can traffic school remove a ticket or points in Pennsylvania?
PennDOT's Driver Improvement School is only for drivers required to attend because of point accumulation or excessive speeding (31+ mph over); it is not a way to dismiss a ticket. On a first accumulation of 6 points, completing the school removes 4 points (passing the written point exam instead removes 2). On a second or later accumulation, 2 points are removed after the sanctions are completed. No points are removed for the school after an excessive-speeding hearing. The course is six hours and requires passing an exam with at least 80%, online or in person.
What gets your license suspended in Pennsylvania?
Grounds include points (automatic suspension at 11 points), DUI, chemical test refusal, failing to respond to a citation, and driving without insurance (if a vehicle was uninsured 31 days or more, the registration is suspended three months, and the driving privilege is also suspended three months if the owner drove or allowed it to be driven). Before restoration, the driver must serve the suspension, show payment of fines and costs and proof of insurance, and pay a restoration fee. A suspension can be appealed to the county Court of Common Pleas within 30 days of the notice's mailing date.
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.