Drivers must settle their Indiana traffic ticket issue in due time in order to avoid further fines and penalties, such as license suspensions for failure to appear in court or pay the fine. Motorists can either plead innocent and fight traffic tickets or they can pay the fee via one of several methods. Learn how to prepare a citation appeal or how to pay your penalties in the sections below.

Fighting an Indiana Ticket

The process of fighting traffic tickets in Indiana may vary based on several factors, such as the county where the citation was issued and the type of violation that was committed. Drivers who choose to dispute traffic tickets in IN can start the procedure by informing the corresponding court of their decision. The ticket generally contains the information about how, when and which court to contact.

Motorists can start preparing their IN traffic ticket defense after receiving a date for their hearing. At the trial, you will have the opportunity to present your case, question any relevant witnesses and submit evidentiary documents. If the judge finds you guilty of the traffic violation, you will be required to pay the fine, as well as any additional court fees and surcharges.

Depending on the offense, you may even accrue demerit points on your IN driving record. If you are found innocent, your record will remain unaffected and you will not be required to pay the fine.

Paying an Indiana Ticket

Paying traffic tickets online in Indiana is the most convenient method of providing your payment. Note that not all citations are available through the state Online Ticket Payment portal. In such cases, motorists will be required to contact the corresponding court to inquire about alternative methods to pay their tickets.

When paying certain types of traffic tickets, such as a charge for driving under the influence (DUI), drivers may also be eligible to participate in the state Safe Driver Deferral Program. The program allows safe drivers to avoid a conviction for an IN traffic violation by completing a six-month probationary period. If you want to avoid the most serious penalties for a DUI, it is best to hire an Indiana traffic attorney or DUI lawyer.

Lost Tickets in Indiana

To successfully settle an IN traffic ticket issue, motorists must generally utilize the information displayed on their tickets. Therefore, in the event of a lost traffic citation, you may be unable to either pay or fight your ticket.

Motorists who are eligible to submit an Indiana ticket payment online can easily retrieve their ticket data by providing their license number or their name and birth date. If you are unable to find information regarding your traffic citation via the internet, you can still complete the procedure by contacting the court that is handling your case.

Indiana Fines and Penalties

The Indiana traffic fine amount associated with a traffic ticket issued within the state generally varies based on the type of violation that was committed and the county where the offense took place. Depending on your circumstances, you may also be required to pay additional fees and surcharges.

For instance, drivers who fail to pay driving tickets in IN by the date displayed on the citation are often required to pay a late fee, which varies from county to county. The following list reviews several types of traffic violations and their corresponding fines in Henry County, Indiana:

• Speeding 11 to 15 mph over the posted limit: $148
• Disregarding stop signs: $143
• Driving with a suspended license: $163
• Littering: $167

Note: Since the amount of due traffic tickets payments in IN is not uniform across the state, motorists should carefully review their tickets prior to paying the fine and/or contact the presiding court to inquire about any additional costs.

Points in Indiana

Certain types of Indiana traffic citations also lead to a specific number of demerit points on the driver’s record of the motorist who committed the offense. Depending on the seriousness on the IN traffic violation, the amount of assigned points varies. Review several infractions and their corresponding point penalties in Indiana in the following list:

• Operating a vehicle with damaged brakes or signal lights: 2 points
• Driving 16 to 25 mph over the posted limit: 4 points
• Failure to yield: 6 points
• Driving while suspended: 8 points

Even if a conviction for a minor traffic ticket offense does not result in negative points, the conviction will still be reported on the driver’s record. Also, to prevent the addition of further points on your record, you can enroll in an approved traffic school program and earn a certain amount of point credits.

How Tickets Affect an Indiana Drivers License

Drivers who were issued a traffic ticket in Indiana may also be at risk of certain adverse actions against their driving privileges. If you are convicted of at least two traffic violations within a 12-month period, for instance, the presiding court may require you to complete a state-approved driver safety program (DSP) or a defensive driving course (DDC).

If you fail to do so, the state Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) will suspend your driving license. Based on factors such as the number of incurred traffic citations and the severity of the committed offenses, the duration of the driving license suspension varies.

Indiana Car Insurance Fines and Violations

Police officers also issue Indiana traffic tickets to drivers operating their vehicles without the proper insurance. The minimum insurance standard is currently set at $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one individual, $50,000 for injuries or death of two or more individuals and $25,000 for property damages.

The traffic fine amount issued for a no insurance offense may vary from county to county. Motorists who commit this type of traffic violation in Henry County, for instance, will be required to pay traffic citations in the amount of $163.

Note: Motorists who receive several IN traffic tickets may also affect their Indiana vehicle insurance rates, since insurance providers consider such drivers as risky investments.

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