I got a speeding ticket a couple of days ago, my first, and I'm a little confused about a couple of things regarding what I have to do. I always was under the impression that people with tickets just had to pay the fine by a certain date, but maybe not?

I keep reading that I have to go in to court, but its sometimes worded like I don't have to unless I feel I'm innocent? Or if I don't pay the fine by a certain day? But other times its worded like I have to go in regardless

If I do have to go in, I think it says I could go in any day, just so long as its at the right time? Or do I have to go on the arraignment day? And what exactly am I going for? Just to say, "Yeah I was speeding and paid the fine?" or is something else happening?

And also, if I do have to go in, what's the point of the convenience of paying by phone or online if I have to show up anyway? Might as well pay there...

Another question: How do I know how much the ticket is? I mean, I was going 10 over, and the pamphlet says that a certain amount, but I keep reading about the fine being raised to the "maximum" if I don't pay it. So, what's the "maximum?" Is that the number in the pamphlet, so maybe my ticket is cheaper, or is it the fine for, like, 20 over or whatever that would be the maximum?

*sigh*

You must pay a bond in a similar way as if you were taken into custody and booked into jail if you intend to plead not guilty. If you intend to plead guilty or nolo contendere, you must pay the fine. The only reason I would just pay the fine if you intend to plead nolo is because it is treated as a guilty plead.

If you fail to post bond or pay the fine, a bench warrant will be issued, and the next time you are detained by a cop, and checked for wants and warrants, you will be booked for failure to appear.

The amount of the fine should be in the information. Call the municipal court clerk for clarification.

(for those who do not believe me, I suggest calling the municipal court clerk)

ginkasa,

i'm going to assume that you're just gonna pay the ticket and not contest it in court. in that case, you do not have to show up anywhere in person and can pay by mail or online. a few days to a week after you got the ticket, you can look it up online at okc.gov (or by phone) and see exactly how much you owe...

hope that helps,

-M

Don't bother fighting it - the judge will ALWAYS take the cops side. The only two tickets I ever won was 1) OHP airplane timed me from one milemarker to the next at about 100MPH. My lawyer told me to show up on the court date because often times the pilot will be a no show. Sure enough! I insisted on a trial then and there and the judge had to drop the ticket - thank God! 2) I was ticketed for not using my blinker by OHP on I-35 around Frontier City. Thankfully the officer had the dash cam video to prove I had not used my blinker. BUT, it also proved there were no other cars around me (OHP was parked in the median). There is a loophole in the law that doesn't require you to use your blinker if there are no cars within so many feet/yards of your car. So, I got off.

Another option in many counties is driver education if you think the ticket will hurt either your insurance or your employment.

I did driver education 3 times in the late 80's and early 90's to get rid of tickets. Back then there was no computer database that kept you from taking it over and over. I don't know about now. They tell you in court you can only go once.

Back to your question;
ANDERSON is right, but he failed to answer all your questions.
In Oklahoma County you can pay the fine any time before your set court date. Either go to the counter, mail it in, call or pay online at okc.gov. Whatever you do, hold on to your receipt just in case!

If you want to fight it, show up on your court date and tell them so. They make you pay the fine in advance as a bond. They will then give you a new court date.

If you fight it, ask to pay an additional $25 for a court reporter so there is a transcript. Without one you cannot appeal the verdict.

Personally, pay the fine and plead no contest or ask the municipal counselor if a deal can be made to go to driver education (if they still offer it).

If you Oklahoma City Police wrote you the ticket, you can go to the city court and pay the fine any time before your court date. The court cashier window is usually open at least until 10.

I was in the same situation as you a few months back. They gave me two options. I could enter a plea and pay the fine. Or I could enter a plea and sign a commitment to attend traffic school and just pay the court costs.

They told me that If I attended traffic school my ticket would only post on city records. In six months if my record remains clean they would delete the ticket from city records.

They have a list of schools and a couple of them are on the internet. I recommend taking the internet course. It is very easy and it will only take a couple of hours. It consists of reading, quizzes and a final test at the end. I want to say it cost $25 I am not for sure.

Court cost and traffic school fee was just a few dollars of shy of paying the whole fine.

I highly recommend Traffic school. I think it is the way to go if they will let you take it.

It will save you lots of money in the long run regarding insurance. Here is one on-line course I found.. it cost $29.99 and they have a lot of info on the site.. I haven't read through it all but it might be a good place to start:

Oklahoma Defensive Driving - Traffic School Online

__________________
" You've Been Thunder Struck ! "

1. About the traffic school stuff: The officer told me that since it was only 10 over and I've never had one before it wouldn't go on my record or affect my insurance.

2. So, I don't have to show up anywhere, right? I can just pay the fine and basically forget about it, considering he said it wouldn't affect my insurance?

i've no proof, but i've always heard that speeding tickets of 10mph or under don't go on your record... as far as insurance is concerned, at least.

as it's been stated, you don't have to show up anywhere if you're just paying the fine. -M

This applies if an Oklahoma City officer wrote the ticket.

You do not need to go to court, but I would go down to the city court's building to take care of it. That way you get all the paperwork to prove you paid it. You are going to have to go down there anyway to register for the traffic course. They give you a list of approved websites, traffic schools and the times the city schedules theirs'.

The counter is in the city courts building its open from 7am to Midnight daily it is located on the back side of OCPD Headquarters. You can usually park in the parking lot across the street from the city court provided nothing is going on at the Civic Center.

Here is a link to give you more information.

http://okc.gov/courts/about_ticket.html


If the ticket was wrote in another city check with the municipality. Most of the metro agencies have websites that spell out the ticket and fine procedures. If OHP or a county deputy wrote it, you will need to go the county court house of the county it was wrote in.

Great points on getting the paperwork and receipt. I had forgotten the first few months we moved here my husband got a ticket .. he paid it... thought all was well. We went to Vegas a few months later and he went to rent a car and they must have pulled his license number and lo and behold he couldn't use his license to rent the car .. ( I gave them mine, no biggie) but as soon as I got home, I called to find out what was going on.. apparently, they had never cleared the ticket.

Thankfully, I had the receipt and paperwork that he paid it.. and they cleared it right away.

So, take the above advice, keep those receipts!

__________________
" You've Been Thunder Struck ! "

Unfortunately, my 19 year old son is a pro at this. He has had experience with three tickets in the last two years. Two of the tickets were from Okla. City Police for speeding...10 mph over, and he was told by the officer that it would not go on his record, nor would it affect his insurance.

His tickets were $178.00 each. I went to City of Oklahoma City | News., and paid the tickets online. It saved my son a trip downtown.....which is good, since my son is geographically challenged. He has no sense of direction.

But, like Karried said, save the receipt. If you pay online, you have the option to print out a receipt.

Wow.. that's not cheap! I forgot how pricey tickets can be .. does it go up a lot depending on how fast you go or how much over the speed limit?

__________________
" You've Been Thunder Struck ! "

Keith you are you can pay it online but, if you take the traffic school option you have to go to the counter because they give a contract to sign that assigns a deadline for when you have the course completed. If you do not complete the traffic school by the deadline they reactivate the ticket and charge a penalty.

Online may sound easier but, it if you go down there in the evening you can be in and out in about 5-10 minutes.

I might go down there just to get the receipt (I don't have a printer), but the traffic school is unncecessary, I think. I can just pay for the ticket, and its not going to affect my insurance, anyway, so...

Exactly Ginkasa. I bet you get a receipt online too though but too be sure I would go down there as well. I haven't had a speeding ticket yet (knock on wood) so you're thread was helpful in helping me know what to do. My hubby has had a lot and has taken driving school for 1 of them, a wreckless driving ticket, lol. Now that was worth the trouble.