Traffic Tickets in Mississippi

SUMMARY: Mississippi Traffic Tickets

Depending on the county in Mississippi where you received your traffic ticket, you can normally pay your ticket fines online, by mail, or in person. Each county in Mississippi handles its own traffic tickets separately. If you plan to fight the charge, you'll need to plead “not guilty" in court.

Continue reading this page for information about traffic tickets in Mississippi.

MS Traffic Ticket Fines and Penalties

Traffic ticket fines, assessments, and court fees in Mississippi vary by violation and county court. To determine exactly how much you must pay, you can refer to your MS traffic ticket or contact the traffic court in the county where you received your ticket.

Assessments

Courts in Mississippi add assessments to all traffic violations, which are additional fines you must pay. These fines go towards funding county and state programs, and vary depending on county court.

Contact the relevant county or municipal court for more information about assessments.

Driving Records

There is no “point system" in Mississippi; however, when you're convicted of a violation, it will go on your driving record. This can in turn cause your car insurance rates to increase.

For more information, visit our DMV Point System page.

NOTE: If you find your premiums are becoming too high for your budget, shop around online and compare car insurance rates from a variety of auto insurance providers.

Driver Improvement Program

In certain cases, the Mississippi court may dismiss your traffic ticket upon your completion of an approved defensive driving course. The court will determine your eligibility based on the traffic offense you committed and your driving history.

For more information, visit our Defensive Driving page. Contact the Mississippi traffic court handling your case to check if you're eligible before you enroll in a course.

Pay a Traffic Ticket in Mississippi

The steps to pay your traffic ticket in Mississippi may vary by court. Look on your traffic ticket or contact the appropriate traffic court for specific instructions.

You may be able to pay your MS traffic ticket fine:

  • Online.
  • By mail.
  • In person.

Remember, paying your traffic ticket means you're pleading “guilty" to the charge.

NOTE: The MS Department of Public Safety (DPS) will suspend your driver’s license and impose a late fee if you fail to pay your traffic ticket by the due date.

Fight a MS Traffic Ticket

To dispute your violation in Mississippi, you must enter a "not guilty" plea in person on the date listed on your traffic ticket. This appearance is called an arraignment.

For specific instructions on how to proceed, refer to your traffic ticket or contact the Mississippi county court handling your ticket.

NOTE: If you fail to respond to your traffic ticket, the court will impose a late fee and suspend your MS driver's license.

Hire a Traffic Ticket Attorney

If your budget allows, consider hiring a traffic ticket attorney to represent you in court.

Lost Your Traffic Ticket?

If you've lost your MS traffic ticket, you'll need to get in touch with the appropriate Mississippi court. You can also check their website as they may have an online ticket search feature.

Fines & Penalties for Commercial Drivers

If you have a Mississippi commercial driver's license (CDL), you must notify your employer within 30 days of being convicted of a traffic violation. You'll lose your driving privilege if you're convicted of a major offense. A few examples are:

  • Refusing to take a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test.
  • Operating a commercial motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.04% or higher.
  • Operating a commercial motor vehicle with a suspended or revoked CDL.
  • Leaving the scene of an accident.

You can find more information on our CDL Suspension page.

Mississippi Traffic Tickets: FAQs

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

  • MS driving records.
  • Car insurance.
  • Traffic ticket attorneys.
  • Dismissing a traffic ticket.
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