Traffic FAQs at 52-2 District Court

• You may pay tickets online if you wish to admit responsibility without an explanation.
• If you wish to deny responsibility, please see the Information Hearing FAQ’s.

There are only three offenses by law which are waivable: 

• Defective Equipment
• Registration Violations (No Proof or Unsigned)
• No Operator's License on Person

For more information, please visit the Waivable Violations page.

Defective Equipment, No Proof of Registration, and No Operator’s License on Person are not reportable to Secretary of State.

An Informal Hearing consists of the Magistrate, the respondent and the police officer who issued the ticket. Attorneys are not allowed to participate in an Informal Hearing.

Both individuals are placed under oath and the Magistrate listens to the testimony. The burden of proving the defendant responsible is on the police officer, who is also called the plaintiff.

The plaintiff must prove by a preponderance of the evidence, or that it is more likely than not, that the respondent is responsible for the alleged traffic violation. The respondent is also entitled to testify, including having witnesses testify on his/her behalf.

At the conclusion of the hearing, the Magistrate will make a determination of responsible or not responsible. If either party is not satisfied with the outcome, the case may be appealed within seven days of the Informal Hearing to a Formal Hearing, which will then be sent to the Criminal Division and held before a District Judge. If the decision is appealed by the respondent, a cash bond must be posted in the amount of the fine. A notice of the formal hearing will be mailed to the respondent within approximately two weeks.

For more information, visit the Informal Hearing FAQs page

A formal hearing must be requested in writing. The respondent may sign and date the back of the ticket under “deny responsibility,” or, on a separate piece of paper, may write a statement that he/she is denying responsibility and requesting a formal hearing, which must include the respondent’s signature and date. The ticket and/or statement shall then be to submitted to the court via postal mail or dropped off in person. 

If an admission or denial of responsibility is not made within 14 days of the issuance of the ticket, or if the respondent fails to appear for a scheduled hearing, a Default Judgment is entered. Once a Default Judgment is entered, a $35 Default fee is added to the price of the ticket. Within 14 days of being notified of the Default Judgment, the Respondent must either pay the fine plus the $35 Default fee or file a motion to set aside the Default Judgment. For more information, visit the Defaulted Tickets page.

You must fill out the Motion to Set Aside Default Judgment and Order - CIA04 form with your explanation of why you feel you should be allowed to set aside the default. A cash bond must be posted in the original amount of the ticket, together with the form, within 14 days of the default judgement.

If the Magistrate grants the motion, an Informal Hearing will be scheduled and you will be sent a notice of the Informal Hearing within approximately two weeks. If the Magistrate denies the motion, the default will stand and the bond that you have posted will be applied to the outstanding fines and costs.