Traffic tickets are no fun, but almost everyone gets one at some point or another. Whether you were speeding down the road, or simply parked too close to a fire hydrant, it’s important to understand how to handle a Michigan traffic ticket.
While a ticket is bad on its own, it can be made far worse if you don’t understand how to pay it or run into complications with getting it resolved. In order to ensure that you can quickly and correctly handle a Michigan traffic ticket, there are a few things you need to know.
What Is A Michigan Civil Infraction
Civil infractions in Michigan are defined as follows:
“An act or omission that is prohibited by a law and is not a crime under that law or that is prohibited by an ordinance and is not a crime under that ordinance, and for which civil sanctions may be ordered.”
Civil infractions are not as serious as a crime and are not treated as such. However, depending on the severity of your infraction they can quickly escalate and potentially be quite costly.
Since civil infractions are not considered crimes, they do not go on your criminal record. Rather, points are placed on your driving record in accordance with your infraction. Those points will then directly affect areas such as insurance rates. However, infraction points will drop off of your driving record in the state of Michigan after 2 years.
While the long-term consequences of a civil infraction are by no means as severe as a criminal offense, it is still crucial that you understand how to handle a Michigan traffic ticket and how much it will cost you.
How Much Is A Traffic Ticket In Michigan?
Traffic tickets in Michigan can vary greatly depending on the infraction. Furthermore, you have to factor in both the cost of the initial ticket as well as the fees that you will pay in insurance and potentially court costs. Here’s a brief rundown of what a traffic ticket really costs.
The Initial Ticket
Unfortunately, there is no clear answer for what a ticket will cost you. The reason for this is that depending on your infraction, the amount of your ticket will vary. Furthermore, depending on where you are in Michigan, your cost may be greater or less.
For example, tickets in bigger cities like Detroit tend to be more expensive than in smaller cities like Grant. If you’re worried about knowing how much your ticket is, don’t stress. It will be listed on the ticket itself. If you want a rough idea of what a specific infraction may cost, you can look it up based on your city. However, to give you an idea, here are a few costs that you could expect to pay in Detroit.
- Speeding 1-5 MPH over the limit: $90
- Speeding 26+ MPH over limit: $155 + $4 per additional mile
- Failure to signal: $95
- Failure to stop for a school bus: $180
- Improper U-turn: $100
Clearly, the amount of your ticket can greatly vary. However, you can contact your local district court about different penalties if you want an exact number for your specific area. It’s important to remember, however, that your ticket fee won’t be the only cost you have to pay.
Ticket-Related Fees
Tickets cause your insurance to rise and depending on the severity of your infraction you may run into other issues such as jail time, court fees, loss of license, or an impounded vehicle.
Just as the amount of your infraction may vary, the impact on your insurance will vary as well. However, insurance fees can be costly, and they will continue to impact you until your infraction points drop off of your record. Here are some of the more common infractions and how they affect your insurance.
- Failure to wear a seat belt: $42/year
- Driving too slowly: $820/year
- Driving with an open container: $2,155year
- DUI: $4,757/year
- Hit and run: $4,917/year
For a full list of all 26 Michigan driving infractions and how they affect your insurance rates, see here.
How To Pay A Traffic Ticket In Michigan
While severe infractions require you to appear in court, most Michigan traffic tickets can easily be handled in a couple of different ways.
In-Person
Since courts accept cash, checks, and money orders, you can simply make your payment out to your local district court and drop it off.
By Mail
You can also send your payment via mail if you don’t want to go personally. Simply follow the same steps as you would for in-person payment, and mail it into your local district court. However, make sure you include the defendant’s name as well as their case number.
Online
Your ticket should have a website listed where you can go online and make a debit or credit card payment to settle your infraction.
By Phone
Aside from a website you can use to settle your ticket, there should also be a number you can call with any questions or if you want to pay for your ticket over the phone. Simply provide the operator with your information and card number.
What Happens If You Don’t Pay A Traffic Ticket?
Regardless of how severe your ticket is, make sure you pay it quickly and correctly. Tickets become far worse and more expensive if you don’t pay them on time.
If you don’t pay your court-ordered fine, you could potentially face up to 93 days of imprisonment as well as a $100 fine. Generally, if your ticket goes unpaid for up to 28 days after its due date, you will be mailed a notice to your last known address. If you still have not paid your fee 14 days after this notice is sent, your driver’s license may be suspended.
If you are overwhelmed by your ticket or things have escalated, consider reaching out to a traffic court representative. These individuals can provide you with the legal consultation and explanation you need to get your affairs sorted and quickly get back on the road.
We Can Help!
At Traffic Buddy, we believe that every individual should have access to legal representation for any traffic-related charges. From racing tickets to forfeiture of vehicles, we make it our mission to help provide all the facts to help ensure you receive the minimum possible penalties for any supposed infraction. If you need traffic court representation, reach out today!