What are Kentucky Traffic Tickets?

Kentucky traffic tickets are legal documents given to road users after a traffic violation. Law enforcement agencies in the state issue these notices, and they reveal the severity of the offense and the penalties or fines associated with it. Some of these traffic violations include reckless driving, illegal u-turn, racing on a highway, improper passing, drinking & driving violations, and other acts as contained in Kentucky Revised Statutes §189. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) is in charge of all driving-related violations and records. As such, all issues concerning traffic tickets in the state can be resolved by contacting the department or law enforcement agency in the county.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often make searching more straightforward, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for a specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties usually must provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the document or person involved

Third-party sites are independent of government sources and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.

What Does a Traffic Citation Mean?

A traffic citation is a legal notice given to motorists who have violated traffic laws in the state. Offenders who are given a traffic citation are required to appear in court to resolve their case. Alleged offenders may contest the citation or pay the fines associated with it. Traffic offenders ought to sign the traffic citation at the time of issuance. Signing a summons connotes that the violator acknowledges receipt and takes the responsibility to show up in court. Traffic citations are often used together with traffic tickets, but they are different. While a traffic ticket allows an offender to resolve the issue after payment, a traffic citation requires the offender to make a court appearance.

How Do I Pay a Traffic Ticket in Kentucky?

District Courts in Kentucky are tasked with hearing all traffic violations cases. As such, offenders can contact the county’s district court clerk to pay their ticket fines in person or via mail. All fines must be paid within the specified date indicated on the ticket. Failure to do so may lead to stiffer penalties, which may include driver’s license suspension. However, accepting to pay the ticket fine automatically means admitting wrongdoing. An alternative method of resolving traffic violations is to appear in court to challenge a traffic ticket.

Can You Pay Kentucky Traffic Tickets Online?

Yes, Kentucky traffic tickets can be paid online. The Kentucky Court of Justice operates a unified online payment system for motorists seeking to resolve their traffic ticket fines. Motorists who have been issued a ticket may choose to pay online or contact the county court clerk to challenge the ticket. Some online third-party providers offer to resolve and respond to tickets of offenders. Information required to use these sites include

• The violator’s full name
• The violator’s location/state
• Birth information if the violator
• The date and location of the offense
• The offender’s license information
• The citation number of the ticket or the DL number

How do I Pay a Ticket online in Kentucky?

In Kentucky, payment of court fines and fees can be online via the Kentucky Court of Justice web page. Details such as court date on the citation, the citation number, and the county where the citation was issued will be needed to use the online payment system. Offenders are expected to make online payments three business days before the court date on the citation.

What is the Kentucky Traffic Ticketing System?

The Kentucky traffic system is maintained by the Department of Vehicle Regulation and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC). It is known as the Driver Point System; the ticketing system is implemented by the state’s various law enforcement agencies. The system is similar to the federal driving point system, and it reveals persistent traffic violators. Also, it is used to determine the different fines for specific driving offenses.

Examples of points assigned to traffic violations are listed below:

• Six points for failing to stop for a school (or church) bus
• Six points for tickets issued to drivers speeding from 16 to 25 mph over the speed limit
• Four points for following another vehicle too closely
• Three points for careless driving
• Three points for speeding tickets issued to motorists driving between 11 and 15 mph over the limit.
• Three points are given for texting while driving.

Generally, motorists above 18 years old who have accumulated 12 points within a year will be notified of proposed license suspension. Motorists below 18 years who have accumulated six points on their record will be notified of proposed license suspension. In Kentucky, points can only be reduced when the offender pleads guilty at an administrative hearing. At the hearing, defendants can avoid license suspension by choosing to attend the State Traffic School. Types of offenses and their point values included in the Kentucky Driver Point System provided by the Department of Vehicle Regulation.

How Do I Know if I Have a Traffic Ticket in Kentucky?

In Kentucky, motorists who have been issued a ticket will be sent a mail to their residence. However, residents who miss this mail may find out if they have unresolved traffic tickets by requesting for their driving record. The Kentucky driving record, also known as the driver history record, can be gotten online, via mail, or by visiting a driver licensing regional field office located in Kentucky.

Online access to an individual’s DHR (driver history record) costs $3.50. Being a public record under KRS §186.018, only a three-year driver history record is available to any requester. The report is accessible using details such as the driver’s name, birth date, and driver’s license number. Requesters can also obtain the information via mail, for a fee of $3. To use the mail-in service, interested persons can send a request, including the driver’s name, date of birth, social security number or license number, and current residence address to:

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

Division of Driver Licensing

Attn: Driver History Records / Fees Section

200 Mero Street

Frankfort, KY 40622

Interested persons may also use online case citation search tools owned to view any unresolved traffic ticket. These online resources are managed independently by aggregation sites and may not be entirely accurate. The most recommended means of obtaining a moving violation report or driver’s history is for the requestor to contact the General sessions or municipal court of the jurisdiction where they are resident.

How Can I Find a Lost Traffic Ticket in Kentucky?

Residents in Kentucky may find lost traffic tickets and citations by contacting the traffic court clerk located in the county where the ticket was issued. Information such as the ticket citation number, fine, and deadline will be required to facilitate ticket search. As such, offenders must memorize the citation number, place of the ticket, and the issuing officer’s name and the violation for which they were charged.

How Long Does a Traffic Ticket Stay on Your Record in Kentucky?

A traffic ticket can remain on an offender’s driving history for up to two years in Kentucky. However, speeding tickets can be removed after one year from the date of conviction. Other severe violations may stay for five years or ten years for commercial drivers. However, the national average is three.

Is a Summons Worse Than a Ticket in Kentucky?

Court summons are given to a traffic offender who must appear at any district court, as stated on the ticket. On the other hand, tickets can be resolved through payments made in person, via mail, or online. In Kentucky, a court summons is issued for severe traffic violations while traffic tickets are given to offenders who commit less serious traffic offenses.