Find clear answers to common questions about traffic tickets, court procedures, and how Traffic Court Buddy can help you find a traffic ticket lawyer.
Whenever an individual receives a citation from a police officer, that individual has the absolute legal right to challenge the violation—no matter what the ticket is for. When learning how to fight a traffic ticket in Michigan, understanding formal court procedure is essential. When you hire Traffic Court Buddy, our lawyers file their appearances on your case and request a formal hearing at the district court.
Unless you are charged with a misdemeanor, you do not need to attend that hearing in person (although you are welcome to if you prefer). At that hearing, our attorneys actively challenge the evidence brought against you. In many cases, through skilled negotiation and defense work, the prosecutor offers a resolution wherein your points are either completely eliminated or significantly reduced. Exceptions to this rule may apply depending on the specific court jurisdiction and the nature of the violation. For further details on courtroom representation, review our ongoing traffic ticket FAQ updates.
No. At this time, our firm is strictly dedicated to traffic-related offenses, impaired driving defense, and vehicle impounds; we do not handle unrelated legal matters. However, exceptions may apply depending on the situation. Please reach out to Traffic Court Buddy or browse our traffic ticket FAQ resources for more information on our focused practice areas.
While most individuals will be able to take advantage of our $399 flat fee, some cases may require additional fees depending on the location of the court, the individual’s prior driving record, and in the event we have to take your case to trial. Trials are completely separate and rare, and they are handled on a case-by-case basis. In addition, as outlined in this traffic ticket FAQ, our legal fee does not include any mandatory fines or statutory court costs assessed directly by the presiding judge.
A primary question drivers ask is: will a traffic ticket affect my insurance Michigan drivers carry? To understand whether a citation will impact your insurance premiums in Michigan, you must first understand the legal difference between moving violations and non-moving violations. Both classifications are civil infractions; however, the most common moving violations are speeding tickets.
Speeding tickets are not the only type of moving violations that exist under state law. Another common citation is a seatbelt violation, which is generally classified as a non-moving violation. The differences between non-moving and moving violations are strictly controlled by the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code, which coordinates each individual traffic infraction by statute.
In reality, the term “moving violation” is a legal term of art. It is used to differentiate between infractions that abstract (are transmitted directly to the Michigan Secretary of State) and are therefore placed on an individual’s public driving record. Moving violations appear on your driving record regardless of the number of points assigned. In fact, certain traffic tickets carry zero points but still appear on your driving record.
Non-moving violations, on the other hand, are not abstracted onto your permanent driving record. If an infraction does not appear on your record, your auto insurance provider will not see it, meaning it will have no influence on your premium rates. As this traffic ticket FAQ illustrates, retaining legal counsel is crucial before admitting responsibility to any citation.
Here at Traffic Court Buddy, we contest moving violations aggressively. Our team regularly achieves favorable results by negotiating plea agreements that convert moving violations into Impeding Traffic. In Michigan, Impeding Traffic is a non-moving violation that adds zero points to your record, is never reported to the Secretary of State, and will not cause your insurance rates to rise.
The Michigan Department of State maintains all driving records and handles record requests. A Michigan driving record shows any convictions for moving violations and points received, accidents for which you received a violation conviction, suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, drunk driving violations, and tickets for civil infractions.
As highlighted in our traffic ticket FAQ, you can order an official copy of your driving record through several convenient methods:
Online: You can quickly request and instantly view or print your driving record through the Michigan Secretary of State website. Visit the Michigan SOS Driving Record page to log in to your account and process the request with the applicable fee.
In Person: visit any Secretary of State branch office or the Secondary Complex in Lansing, Michigan. You will have to provide your driver’s license and the applicable fee.
By Mail: complete a Michigan Department of State – Requesting Your Own Record form (FormBDVR-154). You will also have to remit the applicable fee.
Then mail the request to:
Michigan Department of State
Record Lookup Unit
7064 Crowner Drive
Lansing, MI 48918-1502
Requests by mail may take up to 8 weeks to process.
NOTE: If you choose to mail your request, do NOT also fax the request form. You will be charged twice.
By Fax: complete a Michigan Department of State – Requesting Your Own Record form (FormBDVR-154). Then fax the request to (517) 322-1181.
Requests by fax take up to 8 weeks to process.
NOTE: If you choose to fax your request, do NOT also mail the request form. You will be charged twice.
By Phone: driving record requests are available by phone only if you are requesting for your own record and you will receive it at the address on file with the Michigan Department of State. To order by phone, call the Michigan DOS Record Lookup Unit at (517) 322-1624.
Many drivers research how to pay Michigan traffic ticket fines quickly after receiving a citation. While our standard advice in this traffic ticket FAQ is never to pay a citation without consulting an attorney first—since paying is an admission of responsibility that can impact your insurance—we understand certain circumstances make immediate payment necessary. To learn more about why you should not just pay your ticket without first contesting it in court, even if the violation does not carry any points, please read “WILL THE TICKET AFFECT MY INSURANCE.”
To pay your traffic ticket, you must first know which of one the 104 Michigan district courts is handling your matter. You can find the court information listed on your ticket under “Court Address & Phone Number.”
Once you identify the court, visit their official website or contact the traffic division clerk directly. Most Michigan district courts accept payments via major credit cards online, though nominal processing fees typically apply. You may also pay your fine in person at the court clerk’s counter. Consult this traffic ticket FAQ or contact our team if you need guidance determining the best step for your ticket.Most courts accept all major credit cards online. We recommend calling the court before you pay your ticket online to determine your fine amount. Most courts charge a nominal fee to use a credit card. You can also pay your fine in person.
To visit a court’s website, simply click on the district court’s corresponding link from the dropdown menu below. By selecting a court from the dropdown menu, you will be directed to the court’s webpage.
