To pay a traffic ticket in Michigan, use the court listed on your citation: most district courts accept payment online through the Michigan Courts ePay portal or their own website, by mail with a check or money order, or in person at the courthouse counter.1Michigan Courts. Michigan Courts ePay You have 14 days from the date the ticket was issued to respond.236th District Court. Traffic Violations Paying counts as admitting responsibility, which puts points on your driving record and can raise your insurance premiums, so read the rest of this before you hit submit.
Pay Online
Many Michigan district courts accept online payment through the statewide Michigan Courts ePay portal, and some run their own payment pages as well.1Michigan Courts. Michigan Courts ePay You will need your ticket number and identifying information such as your last name, driver’s license number, or date of birth.
Payments go through by credit card, and the processor adds a convenience fee that varies by court. Check the total before you confirm. If your ticket is new, it may not appear in the system for several business days, so try again if the citation isn’t found on your first attempt.
Pay by Mail
Write a check or money order payable to the district court named on your ticket. Put your ticket number, full name, and address on the payment so the clerk can match it to your case.336th District Court. Payment Methods Do not send cash. Mail it to the address printed on the citation. Certified mail gives you proof of delivery before the 14-day deadline, which matters if a payment is delayed or lost.
Pay in Person
You can walk into the courthouse listed on your ticket during business hours and pay at the counter. Bring the ticket, a photo ID, and your payment. Most courts accept cash, checks, money orders, and credit or debit cards, though card payments usually carry a processing fee.4Sterling Heights, MI. 41-A District Court – Payment Options
Many courthouses have a drop box near the entrance for after-hours payments. Drop boxes take checks and money orders, not cash. Write your ticket number on whatever you drop in.
Before You Pay, Know What It Means
Paying is one of three ways to respond. The other two are asking the court to lower the fine by admitting responsibility with an explanation, or denying responsibility and requesting a hearing.5Michigan Courts. Traffic Court Hearings If you win a hearing, you owe nothing and no points are added. If you admit with an explanation, a judge or magistrate may reduce the dollar amount, though points still post because only the Secretary of State controls points, not the court.631st District Court. Admit Responsibility With Explanation
Points are assigned by violation. Speeding 6 to 10 mph over is two points; 11 to 15 over is three; 16 or more is four. Running a red light or a stop sign is three. Reckless driving and operating while intoxicated are six.7State of Michigan. Chapter 2 – Your Driving Record Enough points can trigger a driver reexamination by the Secretary of State, which can lead to restrictions or suspension. A traffic conviction can also raise your car insurance premium, and the higher rate can stay with you for years. All of that is worth weighing against the convenience of just paying.
If You Cannot Pay by the Deadline
Call the court clerk’s office before the 14 days run out. Some courts offer payment plans or short extensions, but neither is guaranteed. The court may ask about your income and expenses, and approval is at the judge’s discretion.
Miss the deadline without contacting the court, and a 20 percent late penalty is added to your total balance on the 57th day after the amount was due.8Michigan Courts. 20% Late Penalty Procedural Instructions and Forms The penalty applies to the entire unpaid balance, not just a missed installment. On a $200 ticket, that adds $40 by itself.
What Happens If You Ignore the Ticket
Ignoring a Michigan traffic ticket sets off a chain of consequences that costs far more than the original fine. The court enters a default judgment, finding you responsible automatically.9Michigan Courts. Entering Default Judgment for Failure to Answer a Citation or Appear for a Scheduled Hearing The court then notifies the Secretary of State to suspend your driver’s license. To get it back, you have to resolve every outstanding matter with the court and pay a $45 clearance fee for each ticket you failed to answer.10Michigan Courts. Drivers License Suspensions
Failing to answer a citation or pay a court judgment is also a misdemeanor in Michigan, punishable by up to 93 days in jail, a fine of up to $100, or both. The court may issue a warrant for your arrest. Between the 20 percent late penalty, the clearance fee, and reinstatement costs, a $150 speeding ticket can easily grow past $300. The cheapest response is any response, even a call to the clerk about a payment plan.
Keeping Points Off With the Basic Driver Improvement Course
Michigan gives some drivers a one-time chance to keep points off their record. If you are eligible, the Secretary of State mails you a letter giving you 60 days to enroll in and complete an approved four-hour course. Pass the exam, and the violation still appears on your record but the points are not posted and your insurance company is not notified.11State of Michigan. Basic Driver Improvement Course (BDIC) Eligibility
You can use the program only once. You are ineligible if you had more than two points on your record when the ticket was issued, if the violation was a criminal offense, if you were driving a commercial vehicle, or if you hold a commercial driver’s license. Miss the 60-day window and the points post with no extensions.
Commercial Driver’s License Holders
If you hold a CDL and receive any traffic conviction other than a parking violation in a state other than the one that issued your CDL, federal law requires you to notify both your home state and your current employer in writing within 30 days of the conviction.12eCFR. 49 CFR 383.31 – Notification of Convictions for Driver Violations CDL holders are also ineligible for the Basic Driver Improvement Course, so every ticket posts with full points.13State of Michigan. href=”https://www.michigan.gov/sos/license-id/bdic” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Basic Driver Improvement Course (BDIC) Eligibility