SUMMARY: Washington, D.C. Traffic Tickets
The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) handles all traffic tickets in Washington, D.C. You can pay your ticket fine online, by mail, by phone, or in person. The DMV must receive your payment within 30 days of the ticket date. If you want to fight your traffic ticket, you'll need to request a hearing.
Continue reading this page to learn how to respond to your Washington, D.C. traffic ticket.
NOTE: If you fail to respond to your traffic ticket within 30 days, you will face a driver’s license suspension.
Traffic Ticket Fines & Penalties
In Washington, D.C., traffic ticket fines and court costs vary depending on your violation. You may have to pay additional late fees if you fail to submit payment or schedule a hearing by the deadline date.
Check your ticket or contact the Washington, D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles (D.C. DMV) for more fee information.
Driving Record Points
If you're convicted of a traffic violation or fail to pay your ticket by the deadline, the D.C. DMV will add points to your driving record. If you accumulate 10 to 11 points, your D.C. driver's license will be suspended for 90 days.
Accumulate 12 points or more and your driver's license will be revoked. For more information, visit our Suspended License page.
You may be able to complete a defensive driving course to prevent points from going on your D.C. driving record. To determine your eligibility, refer to your traffic ticket or contact the D.C. DMV.
Pay a Traffic Ticket in Washington, D.C.
NOTE: For specific details on how to pay your ticket fines, you'll need to check your D.C. traffic ticket or contact the Washington, D.C. DMV directly.
Your payment options may include:
- Online.
- By mail.
- By phone.
- In person.
Online
To pay your D.C. traffic ticket online, visit the appropriate website below:
Be sure to have your debit or creditcard ready for payment.
By Mail
To pay your Washington, D.C. traffic ticket by mail, you will need:
- Your D.C. traffic ticket.
- If you've lost your ticket, write your vehicle's state and license plate number on your check or money order.
- A check or money order (payable to "DC Treasurer").
- Write in your traffic ticket number.
Mail the above to:
DMV Adjudication Services
P.O. Box 2014
Washington, DC 20013
In Person
If you wish to pay your Washington, D.C. traffic citation in person, you'll need your:
- D.C. driver's license, ID card, passport, or military ID.
- Payment in the form of cash, check, money order, or credit card.
Bring all of the above to the Washington, D.C. DMV office located at:
955 L'Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, D.C. 20024
For more information, please call Adjudication Services Center at (202) 737-4404.
Fight a D.C. DMV Traffic Ticket
NOTE: To fight your traffic ticket, you must request a hearing within 30 days to avoid an additional fine.
If you disagree with your D.C. traffic ticket the D.C. DMV must receive your request to fight your ticket within 30 days of the issue date. You can schedule your hearing:
- Online.
- By phone.
- By mail.
- In person.
For more information, visit the D.C. DMV website. If you need extra support at your hearing, you may want to consider hiring a traffic ticket attorney.
Lost Your Traffic Ticket?
If you've lost your D.C. DMV traffic ticket, contact the D.C. DMV or the Adjudication Services Center.
They can help you find your ticket fines, deadlines, and payment options, and tell you how to fight the charge.
Fines & Penalties for Commercial Drivers
If you have a Washington, D.C. commercial driver's license (CDL), you must notify your employer within 30 days of being convicted of a traffic violation. This excludes parking tickets, but applies to any vehicle you operate; personal or commercial.
Some offenses may result in your D.C. CDL being suspended for 1 year, such as:
- Leaving the scene of an accident involving a commercial vehicle.
- Driving a commercial vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.04% or higher
- Driving under the influence of a controlled substance.
- Driving a commercial motor vehicle when you have been disqualified or your license is revoked, cancelled or suspended.
- Committing a felony offense while driving a commercial vehicle (a felony involving the distribution, dispensing or making a controlled substance is also included)
- A fatality resulting from the negligent use of a commercial motor vehicle.
- Refusing to submit to blood alcohol testing.
Visit our CDL Suspension page to learn more.
D.C. Traffic Tickets: FAQs
Visit our Traffic Ticket FAQ page for more information about the following topics:
- Washington, D.C. driving records.
- Ticket payment plans.
- Hiring a traffic ticket attorney in D.C.
- E-mail traffic ticket service alerts.
