Paying or Contesting a Traffic Ticket in Vermont

Civil traffic violations are handled by the Judicial Bureau, a statewide court. A driver who admits the violation or pleads no contest waives a hearing and pays the waiver penalty shown on the front of the civil violation complaint (plus any seat belt fees). A driver who denies the violation gets a hearing, where the issuing officer acts as prosecutor and the judge decides the outcome and fine. Extensions of time to pay may be requested.

Traffic tickets (civil violation complaints) go to the Vermont Judicial Bureau. Pay online on the Vermont Judiciary Public Portal: first try "Make Payments" (search by citation number, name or driver's license number); if the ticket is not yet in the system, use "Prepay Fees Online". Credit card payments carry a 2.39% convenience fee. Deliver your plea and fine within 21 days to avoid extra fees. You can also pay by phone (802-652-1900), by mail to the Vermont Judicial Bureau, PO Box 607, White River Junction, VT 05001 (check or money order, complaint number on the payment), or in person at 55 Railroad Row, White River Junction. Parking tickets go to the issuing municipality.

The statutes read do not provide a traffic school that dismisses tickets or removes points. However, a Superior Court judge or Judicial Bureau hearing officer may waive points for a moving violation in the interests of justice if the driver had no points in the past five years and no more than three points in the past 10 years, the violation carries no more than three points, it was not in a commercial vehicle, and it caused no injury or property damage.

Grounds include accumulating 10 or more points in two years (10 days and up), DUI convictions (90 days for a first conviction), and refusing or failing a DUI test (civil suspension). Habitual offenders may also be suspended. After any suspension, the DMV charges a reinstatement fee, and DUI-related suspensions continue until the person meets the requirements of 23 V.S.A. § 1209a.