if courthouse is closed where can I pay traffic fine?

Question

I want to post bail for a speeding ticket but it is friday night and the courthouse traffic violations window will not open until monday....where can I pay the bail?.....maybe the police station???

Answer 1

no, you don't post bail for a speeding ticket unless the person who got it is in jail, bail is money to get someone out of jail, and the people at the jail can take it.

if it is just the fine, you have to wait till the court house is open.

Answer 2

you are using the term bail when what you really mean is bond. You want to post bond on this ticket,

Your ticket has a court date on it, which is a due date when the ticket has to be paid or a bond posted equal to the amount of the ticket cost, at which point your case will be put on that days court docket to be heard. On a ticket issued by city police, bond is posted at the traffic counter, most are posted just prior to going to the court date on the ticket.

In that court proceeding, you will have the oppurtunity to enter a guilty, not guilty or no contest plea. If you plead guilty or no contest, you can then give the court some explaination of midigating circumstances and ask for a reduced fine or perhaps be eligiable to attend some driver improvment class. Keep in mind though, even though you have posted bond in the amount of the ticket, if you go before the judge; you will also be assest court cost.

Remember, this appearance is a hearing and not a trial so, if you have pleaded guilty or no-contest, you can not challenge the validity of the ticket just give midigating circumstances.

For example say you got a ticket for an expired tag. You can go in and plead guilty but, show that the judge that since recieving the ticket you have brought the tag up to date, and ask the judge to reduce the fine.

Should you elect to enter a plea of not guilty, you will be given a trial date. At that proceeding, you can bring witness and also question the cities witness. (the police officer) At the conclusion the judge will issue either a guilty or not guilty verdict and tell you what the fine is plus court cost.

If you have missed the court date set on the ticket, you still have, in my municality, until midnight of that due date to pay the ticket without having additional cost assessed. Also, within my municipality, a warrent is not issued the day of the due date on the ticket, it actually takes about a week. Nevertheless, the cost of the ticket still goes up, if not paid by midnight of the due date.

Additionally, if the date of the court date (the due date) on the ticket was for today. You can still go in and post a bond at a later date and still have all the above mentioned options available to you. Namely, you can plead guilty and ask the judge to reduce the cost back down to it's original amount. Something he might do, if you come to him quickly.

Once again, if your ticket was issued by a city police officer you post your bond at the TRAFFIC COUNTER and your case is heard by the CITY JUDGE IN CITY COURT (AKA Municipal Court) and

if your ticket was issued by a county sheriff or a state police (Highway Patrol) then the same proceedure takes place however, you post your bond with the COURT CLERKS OFFICE and your case is heard in district court located at the COUNTY COURTHOUSE

**post script: Rest assured if you missed your court date today. They are not going to come pick you up at your house over the weekend. However, you are at some risk , if you get pulled over of being taken to jail and held until you post bond on the ticket.

In that case, it is like bail and it could be said that you were bailed out of jail by posting bond on the ticket. But, I would bet you a dime to a dollar that if you got pulled over tonight, you would come back clear w/o wants or warrents. So don't let it ruin your weekend. Just get it cleaned up on Monday. It is going to be OK.

Answer 3

Google your nearst DMV and enter your plate number. It will show exactly how much you owe them. You can pay it electronically. My friend does this ALL the time.
You can also mail them the check. Check your ticket, there should be envelope with mailing address there.

Answer 4

yes u should be able to go to your local police and pay your fine

Answer 5

maybe you could write a check and mail it,, or buy a money order if it's overdue,,