So you’ve been pulled over, spoken with the officer, and have been handed a ticket. Now what do you do?
People across the state of Iowa receive traffic tickets for various reasons but don’t always know what to do afterward. To make the process of handling your ticket a bit easier and to address your biggest questions, we’ve gathered some information that can help you proceed.
Checking for your ticket
Once you’ve been handed a ticket, it’s easy to get frustrated and a bit flustered. In some cases, you might not even be sure what kind of ticket you received, or perhaps you need to check for a family member. To search for your ticket online, visit the official Iowa DMV website.
Paying for your ticket
The next step in taking care of your ticket is to pay the fine. It varies by county, but most of the time you can pay for your ticket online, by mail, by phone, or in person. Note that some counties will require to you pay in person, so be sure to check.
Fighting your ticket
It is your right to fight a ticket if you feel you’ve been wrongly issued one. To learn how you can fight your traffic violation, check your ticket or get in touch with the appropriate Iowa traffic court. Again, it depends on your county, but you may have the option to submit your “not guilty” plea in person or by mail. Note that you can hire a traffic ticket attorney to come to your hearing.
What to do if you’ve lost your ticket
Obviously losing your ticket won’t make it go away. If you’ve misplaced it, you can proceed in the following ways:
- Search the Iowa Courts Online website for it
- Contact the traffic court for the county where you were issued the ticket
You can also order another copy of your ticket. To do so, you’ll need to submit a written request by mail as well as a check or money order (payable to Treasurer State of Iowa) for $0.50. Mail it to:
Office of Driver Services
Iowa Department of Transportation
P.O. Box 9204
Des Moines, IA 50306
You’re not alone in the fighting process
Remember that if you’ve been feeling a bit overwhelmed since you received and decided to fight your ticket, you can hire an attorney to help you through the process. Contact Cory Goldensoph today to get the traffic ticket assistance you need.