Paying or Contesting a Traffic Ticket in Utah
How to pay, contest or reduce a traffic ticket in Utah, and what happens if you ignore it.
Short answer: The citation states the deadline to pay the fine or the date to appear in court to dispute it. Most infractions can be resolved by paying online (ePayments, in participating courts) or by mailing the bail to the court listed on the citation. Utah Courts, Self-Help: Traffic Offenses
| Paying or fighting a ticket | The citation states the deadline to pay the fine or the date to appear in court to dispute it. Most infractions can be resolved by paying online (ePayments, in participating courts) or by mailing the bail to the court listed on the citation. To dispute a ticket, the driver generally appears and pleads not guilty, may negotiate with the prosecutor, and otherwise goes to trial. If the driver neither pays nor appears by the date, the court can issue an arrest warrant and suspend the license. A justice court decision can be appealed to district court within 28 days. |
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| Paying or looking up a ticket online | Pay district or justice court fines and fees online through the Utah courts' ePayments system using your court case number or citation number (case numbers are unique to a court location, not statewide, so check that the name on the case matches). A delinquent or warrant fee may have been added to the fine. For a court that does not take online payment, contact the court directly. The courts warn that texts demanding payment through links or QR codes are scams. Payment: https://apps.utcourts.gov/ePayments/EPayment.jsp |
| Traffic school | A Driver License Division-approved defensive driving course (through the Utah Safety Council or National Safety Council, live 4-hour or online) reduces the points on a record by up to 50 points; it may be used once every three years. Separately, the courts note that a driver with only a Title 41, Chapter 6a moving violation who was cited no more than 21 days ago may be eligible for Deferred Traffic Prosecution, and pleas in abeyance are available under court rule. |
| License suspension | Grounds include accumulating too many points (200 in three years for adults, 70 for drivers 20 and under), failing to pay or appear on a citation (the court can suspend the license), DUI (administrative suspension of 120 days for a first offense by a driver 21 or older), test refusal, and, for drivers under 21, driving with any measurable alcohol. Insurance-related suspensions and reinstatement fees were not confirmed. |
Where to get help in Utah
More Utah traffic tickets & dui
- Reinstating a Driver's License in Utah
- DUI Laws in Utah
- How Driver Points Work in Utah
- All Utah traffic tickets & dui rules
FAQ
How do you pay or contest a traffic ticket in Utah?
The citation states the deadline to pay the fine or the date to appear in court to dispute it. Most infractions can be resolved by paying online (ePayments, in participating courts) or by mailing the bail to the court listed on the citation. To dispute a ticket, the driver generally appears and pleads not guilty, may negotiate with the prosecutor, and otherwise goes to trial. If the driver neither pays nor appears by the date, the court can issue an arrest warrant and suspend the license. A justice court decision can be appealed to district court within 28 days.
How do I pay or look up a traffic ticket online in Utah?
Pay district or justice court fines and fees online through the Utah courts' ePayments system using your court case number or citation number (case numbers are unique to a court location, not statewide, so check that the name on the case matches). A delinquent or warrant fee may have been added to the fine. For a court that does not take online payment, contact the court directly. The courts warn that texts demanding payment through links or QR codes are scams.
Can traffic school remove a ticket or points in Utah?
A Driver License Division-approved defensive driving course (through the Utah Safety Council or National Safety Council, live 4-hour or online) reduces the points on a record by up to 50 points; it may be used once every three years. Separately, the courts note that a driver with only a Title 41, Chapter 6a moving violation who was cited no more than 21 days ago may be eligible for Deferred Traffic Prosecution, and pleas in abeyance are available under court rule.
What gets your license suspended in Utah?
Grounds include accumulating too many points (200 in three years for adults, 70 for drivers 20 and under), failing to pay or appear on a citation (the court can suspend the license), DUI (administrative suspension of 120 days for a first offense by a driver 21 or older), test refusal, and, for drivers under 21, driving with any measurable alcohol.
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.