Receiving a Traffic Ticket in a Different State or County

Receiving a Traffic Ticket in a Different State or County

No one ever wants to receive a traffic ticket. When you see those red and blue lights in your rearview mirror, it can be a very intimidating thing. It is even worse if you happen to be out of state or out of your home county. The unfamiliar nature of traveling raises many questions. For instance, do you know if you can handle the ticket in your home county instead? This guide will answer any questions you have about this.

Handling it Remotely

Regardless of where the ticket is issued, most traffic tickets can be handled remotely. Most of the time, you can pay the fine online or by mail. This is, by far, the easiest way to handle the ticket. This does not change if you receive a ticket in a different county or state than the one you live in. However, the rules of the road do vary slightly from one state or county to the next. It may be a good idea to research what the laws are in the location you visit.

Court Appearances

Sometimes, you must appear in court to resolve your ticket. This will be the case for:

  • Especially severe versions of otherwise minor violations
  • Severe traffic violations

On top of that, you always have the option to contest a traffic ticket. If you believe your ticket was issued unfairly, you can choose to take the ticket to traffic court, even if you are not required to appear in court.

If this happens for a ticket issued in a different county or state than the one you live in, you cannot resolve it remotely. You must travel back to the issuing state or county to appear in the courts there. You can request for the matter to be transferred to your local courts, but these requests are almost always rejected. There needs to be a very real and unavoidable reason why you cannot return to the issuing county for your court appearance.

In some states, you can admit guilty remotely to avoid going to court. This will result in simply paying the fine online or by mail. Because it is so much harder to contest a ticket in a different county, some police officers will more readily issue tickets to vehicles with foreign license plates. For this reason, you should be extra vigilant to follow the rules of the road while traveling. Remember that hiring a traffic lawyer in Salem, VA to help with your ticket can be a great idea.

Thanks to The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt for their insight into traffic law and tickets from a different state or country.