In Missouri, people who get a traffic citation usually have the option to pay a fine through a traffic violations bureau and waive a court appearance, or to plead not guilty and request a court trial. Courts often use a schedule of fines and may operate a centralized violations bureau to accept pleas and payments. If you do not respond, the court will send notices and may enter a default judgment after two notices for infractions.
After a default judgment, a person may appear to ask the court to modify the judgment if they cannot pay, or to show proof that an equipment violation was corrected so the court may waive fines and costs. Procedures and available relief are set by state law and by local court rules, so exact steps and options can vary by jurisdiction.
Current Missouri law
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The deadline that matters
The appearance date and time shown on the citation or notice must be followed; courts also will schedule a second court date if you fail to respond before a warrant may be avoided.
What Missouri law says
The law gives people a choice to pay a fine at a traffic violations bureau and waive a court appearance, or to deposit bail and plead not guilty and receive a trial as authorized by law under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 300.555. A centralized violations bureau may accept pleas and payments under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 476.385, and the bureau has duties to accept fines, issue receipts, and represent violators who waive appearance and give power of attorney under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 300.560. For infractions, courts may not issue arrest warrants for failure to respond or pay; instead the court must send notices and schedule new court dates, and after two notices may enter a default judgment under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 307.018. Courts must provide the date and time to appear on the citation for minor traffic violations under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 479.354. Certain traffic offenses are classified as infractions under statutes like Mo. Rev. Stat. § 304.140.
What to do
A common first step is to check the citation or notice for the appearance date and any instructions about the traffic violations bureau.
A common next step is to decide whether to pay the scheduled fine at the bureau (which is treated as a conviction) or to plead not guilty and request a court trial.
A common step if you miss the first date is to watch for the court's notice of a new court date and respond to that second date to avoid default.
A common option after a default judgment is to appear later to ask the court to modify the judgment if you cannot pay or to show proof of correction for certain equipment violations so fines may be waived.
A common step is to contact the local court or centralized violations bureau listed on the ticket to learn the local procedures and any required forms or payments.
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Common questions
Can the court issue an arrest warrant for not paying a traffic ticket?
For infractions under the traffic statute, the court may not issue a warrant for failing to respond or pay; instead the court must send notices and set new court dates and may enter a default judgment after two notices as described in the statute.
What happens if I pay the fine at the traffic violations bureau?
Payment at the bureau is treated as an acknowledgment of conviction, and the bureau issues a receipt for the accepted fine under the statute governing payment at the traffic violations bureau.
Can I get fines reduced if I cannot afford to pay?
After a default judgment, the law allows a person to appear and request the court to determine ability to pay, and the court may modify the judgment, including allowing installments, reducing or waiving amounts, or ordering community service.
What if my citation did not list a court date or time?
For minor traffic violations, the statute requires the date and time to be given when the citation is first provided; if it was not, the court must reissue the notice with a specific date and time.
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This is legal information, not legal advice. CiteLaw is not a law firm and does not represent you. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.
