What Are Indiana Traffic Tickets?

Indiana traffic tickets are official notices prepared by law enforcement personnel and issued to individuals who break traffic laws. These tickets may be issued for minor to severe violations and typically contain information on the offenses and the offenders’ details. In Indiana, ticketed motorists are likely to incur high fines, an increase in insurance premiums, loss of driving privileges, vehicle impoundment, prison sentences, and in the case of moving violations, points on their record from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). However, the penalties for these violations depend on the severity of the offenses. Traffic cases are heard by the Traffic Violations Bureau or traffic courts located in the county where the offense occurred.

In Indiana, public traffic records are also accessible from some third-party websites. These websites streamline the search process by aggregating records from various judicial districts, providing remote access to them and allowing users perform multi-record searches. To use third-party search engines, interested parties are typically expected to provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the document or person involved

Third-party sites are neither managed by government custodians nor sponsored by these agencies. Because of this, inquirers may be charged a fee for the service, and the accuracy or completeness of these records may not be guaranteed.

What Does a Traffic Citation Mean in Indiana?

An Indiana traffic citation is the same as a traffic ticket; both terms are used when referring to moving violations and parking infractions. In Indiana, a traffic citation may also be referred to as a Uniform Traffic Ticket (UTT).

How Do I Pay a Traffic Ticket in Indiana?

In Indiana, most traffic tickets are considered Class C infractions, and the accused parties may challenge the traffic ticket, but those who plead no contest may be considered responsible for paying the fines specified in the state’s traffic statutes as well as court costs. However, court costs may not be considered when estimating the fine due for adult seat belt violations and child restraint violations; that is, provided the offender can prove that a child seat was acquired. Offenders may pay for traffic tickets in Indiana online, by phone, mail, and via in-person services provided by the courts. Usually, the amount due, payment information, and the payment due date are included on the ticket. In-person payments may be made to the Court Clerk’s Office or traffic division using cash, cashier’s check, money order, and credit or debit card. Payment methods, options, and extensions may vary by court. Therefore it is essential to look up local rules of the applicable courts. Interested parties may check the courts’ websites for this information or contact the courts with jurisdiction over the matter.

Payments may also be made via mail to the courts. The payer is expected to include a name, the citation number, a copy of the ticket, and the total fee payable by check or money order. Parties may also include self-addressed, stamped envelopes to receive receipts of payments.

Paying a ticket may be considered an admission of guilt, and as such, offenders who commit moving violations may have points assessed on their driver records. However, qualified drivers who commit moving violations may avoid having traffic points added to their records or paying the total violations fee by registering for the Infraction Deferral Program. This program is provided by the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in the county. More information on this program and the eligibility of drivers is available on the applicable court’s or prosecuting attorney’s website.

Not all tickets can be paid before the date on the ticket. Some offenses may require the offenders to make an appearance in court. These are usually the more severe violations such as reckless driving, driving while suspended, leaving the scene of an accident, driving without insurance, or driving while intoxicated.

Can You Pay Indiana Traffic Tickets Online?

Yes, offenders can pay for Indiana traffic tickets online using the Public Access Online Ticket Payment Portal. This platform is a unified payment system that is provided and maintained by the Indiana Judiciary. Motorists can use this site to pay traffic tickets remotely to any traffic court in Indiana. Also, some traffic courts may provide online payment options on their official websites.

How Do I Pay a Ticket Online in Indiana?

Interested persons may use the Public Access Online Ticket Payment Portal to pay for adult and juvenile traffic tickets online by entering a ticket (or uniform traffic ticket) number, driver’s license number, name (first, middle, and last), and date of birth. This site is primarily available to parties whose tickets are eligible for online payment as some tickets may not be accessible on the site. The traffic offices or Traffic Violations Bureau of the applicable courts may be contacted for more information on inaccessible tickets.

What is the Indiana Traffic Ticketing System?

The Indiana Traffic Ticketing System is a numerical technique used by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) to add points on the records of drivers who have been convicted of moving violations. The ITTS is also known as the point value table, and it helps to administer privileges and penalties to drivers who accumulate past a certain number of points. This point system is available to view under Title 140, Article 1 of the Indiana Administrative Code (IAC). In the state, the apex number of points a motorist can get for a moving violation is 10 points, and the least is 2 points. Offenses that are assigned 10 points include, but are not limited to:

• Reckless driving with bodily injury
• Violation of driver’s license restriction or mechanical control device that results in serious bodily injury or death
• Driving while license or driving privileges are suspended or revoked, resulting in bodily injury or death
• Leaving the scene of an accident (injury or death)
• Voluntary or involuntary manslaughter with a vehicle

Parties who accumulate ten moving violations in 10 years, of which one qualifies as a severe offense, are typically subject to harsher penalties, including loss of driving privileges. Penalties for accumulated points are covered under 140 IAC 1–4.5–4.

How Do I Know If I Have a Traffic Ticket in Indiana?

Typically, anyone who gets a traffic ticket in Indiana can expect to be notified by the courts or law enforcement. However, it is still possible to discover if an individual has a traffic ticket by searching through the Public Access Portal. Searchers may enter their names and dates of births, ticket numbers, or driver license numbers to obtain results. Alternatively, interested parties may contact the local traffic courts to get this information.

How Can I Find a Lost Traffic Ticket in Indiana?

Persons who lose or misplace Indiana traffic tickets should contact the appropriate court for information on the ticket. Online searches for lost traffic tickets may also be done using the Public Access Portal.

How Long Does a Traffic Ticket Stay on Your Record in Indiana?

In Indiana, traffic convictions are likely to stay on an individual’s record forever. However, points only stay active on a driver’s record for two years from the conviction date. Motorists may also receive point credits by partaking in a BMV Driver Safety Program (DSP) or Defensive Driving Course (DDC). This action can be done voluntarily once every three years or by court order.

Is a Summons Worse Than a Ticket in Indiana?

A summons is a court order informing the receiver to appear in court at an indicated date or time to answer a traffic violation. On the other hand, a traffic ticket may be resolved by paying a fine without a court appearance. However, in some instances, a ticket holder may be required to appear in court. This is especially the case for severe violations or habitual offenders. Therefore, neither one is worse or better as the accused or summoned party is still subject to penalties under the law depending on the severity of the offense/violation.