Traffic Tickets in Indiana

SUMMARY: Indiana Traffic Tickets

Depending on where you received your traffic ticket, you may be able to pay your fine online, by phone, by mail, or in person. A court appearance may be mandatory. If you plan to dispute the charge, you'll need to plead "not guilty" in court.

Continue reading this page for information all traffic tickets in Indiana.

Traffic Ticket Fines and Penalties

Traffic ticket fines, surcharges, and court fees in Indiana vary by violation and county court. Refer to your IN traffic ticket to get an exact amount, or contact the traffic court in the county where you received your ticket.

If you have a commercial driver's license (CDL), see below.

Driving Record Points

If you're convicted of a traffic violation, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) will assign points to your driving record. The number of points you'll receive will depend on the severity of your traffic ticket.

You can receive up to 8 points for a violation, and points remain on your driving record for 2 years.

Too many driving record points can lead to:

  • Increased insurance rates.
  • A driver's license suspension/revocation.
  • Mandatory completion of a defensive driving course.

See our DMV Point System page for more information. You can also order your Indiana driving record see how many points you've accumulated.

Defensive Driving Courses

In Indiana, you may be required to complete a Driver Safety Program (DSP) or defensive driving course if you:

  • Were convicted of 2 traffic offenses or more within 12 months.
  • Are younger than 21 years old and were involved in any incident where points were assessed by the BMV.
    • This also applies to traffic accidents.

You may be eligible to complete traffic school voluntarily to:

  • Keep a violation off your driving record.
  • Receive a credit of 4 points on your driving record (eligible once every 3 years).

Contact the Indiana traffic court handling your case to check your eligibility.

Habitual Traffic Violator (HTV)

In Indiana, there are serious penalties for repeat traffic offenders. If you are convicted of 3 major offenses (or 2 major offenses resulting in injury or death) within 10 years, you will be deemed a habitual traffic violator (HTV) and your driver's license will be suspended for 10 years.

Some examples of major offenses include:

  • Reckless homicide while operating a vehicle.
  • Voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
  • Causing a death with a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

Auto Insurance Rate Increases

When points are added to your IN driving record, your car insurance rates could increase as a result. Compare car insurance rates online to make sure you are getting the lowest rate possible.

Pay a Traffic Ticket in Indiana

Depending on the county where you received your Indiana traffic ticket, you can generally pay your traffic ticket:

  • Online.
  • By phone.
  • By mail.
  • In person.

Check your traffic ticket or contact the relevant Indiana county court for payment options.

Failure to pay to your traffic ticket fines by the deadline will result in an automatic “guilty" plea and additional penalties. The Indiana BMV will also suspend your driver’s license until your fines have been paid.

Fight an IN Traffic Ticket

To fight your traffic ticket, you will need to plead “not guilty" in court. Refer to your traffic ticket for instructions on how to proceed.

You may need to contact the court handling your case to request a hearing.

Check Your Driving Record

If you contested your traffic ticket and were found "not guilty," make sure the violation and points weren't added to your driving record by mistake. Order your driving record online today!

Lost Your Traffic Ticket?

If you've lost your Indiana traffic ticket, you may be able to search for it online using your IN driver's license number or name and date of birth.

If you can't find your traffic ticket information, you'll need to get in touch with the appropriate county court by phone or in person.

Fines & Penalties for Commercial Drivers

If you have an Indiana CDL, you must inform your employer within 30 days of being convicted of a traffic violation.

You'll lose your driving privileges for 1 year if you're convicted of any of the following offenses as a commercial driver:

  • Driving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) under the influence of alcohol.
  • Refusing to submit to a sobriety test.
  • Operating a CMV with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.04% or higher.
  • Operating a CMV under the influence of a controlled substance.
  • Leaving the scene of an accident.
  • Using a CMV in the commission of a felony.
  • Negligent use of a CMV which causes a fatality.
  • Operating a CMV when your CDL is suspended.

For more information visit our CDL Suspensions in Indiana page.

Indiana Traffic Ticket: FAQs

Read our Traffic Ticket FAQ page to learn more about the following topics:

  • Traffic ticket dismissal.
  • Hiring a traffic ticket attorney.
  • Defensive driving courses in Indiana.
  • Driving records.
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