Traffic tickets may seem like a minor problem initially, but not knowing how to go about them can result in an accumulation of heavy fines, inconvenient visits to the court and money spent at the court as legal fees. This article outlines the issues you may face after receiving a traffic violation ticket in the state of New Jersey and the cheapest and most convenient options to pay your traffic fines without being deprived of your driver’s license.
Being issued a traffic ticket in the state of New Jersey can result in penalties in the form of heavy fines, court costs and the addition of points to your driving record. The accumulation of too many points can result in your driver’s license being suspended. In certain cases, having too many points on your driving record or being charged of particular offences can also result in additional yearly surcharges on top of a fine.
Paying a ticket
Payment options should be listed on the ticket itself. If not, you may contact the appropriate court. For an additional convenience fee, you may also pay your ticket online.
The traffic ticket will also indicate if a court appearance is required.
If the ticket indicates that you must pay surcharges in addition to the fine, these can be paid online, by calling (888) 651-9999, by mailing a check or by sending a money order to the following address:
NJSVS
P.O. Box 4850
Trenton, NJ 08650
To avoid further penalties, pay the fine before the listed due date.
Complete a Defensive Driving Course
The completion of a defensive driving course can result in removal of points from your driving record, or you may even avoid suspension of your drivers license from point accumulation.
However, completing this course can’t result in a traffic ticket being dismissed.
Fighting a New Jersey Traffic Ticket
If you feel you have been wrongly issued a traffic ticket, you have the right to plead “not guilty” in court. If the ticket you have been issued states that a court appearance is mandatory on your part, you can do it there, otherwise you will have to schedule a hearing.
For proper guidance and representation, you should hire a traffic ticket attorney.
Lost your Traffic Ticket?
If your traffic ticket has been lost, contact the traffic court in the county where you were issued the ticket. You will have to provide your:
- Full name
- NJ Drivers License number
- License plate number
You will have to ask for the following information:
- Fine amount
- Court ID
- Ticket prefix
- Ticket number
- Complaint number
- Hearing date(if applicable)
Fines and Penalties for Commercial Drivers
Those with a commercial driver’s license (CDL) must inform their employers within thirty days of receiving a traffic violation ticket in New Jersey.
The penalties for commercial drivers are higher. For example, the following offences can result in a CDL suspension for one year:
- Driving any vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration(BAC) of 0.08% or higher
- Driving a commercial vehicle with a BAC of 0.04%
- Refusing to submit to a sobriety test
