Fine Collection Center
Instructions
1. You must respond to your ticket within 30 days by either:
a. Paying the fine established by the offense on your ticket, or
b. Pleading not guilty and contesting the ticket at a trial in the county where your offense occurred.
2. To Plead Guilty and Pay Your Fine:
a. The amount of most fines is listed on the table at the bottom of this page. If your ticket indicates in the description of the offense block that the cited offense occurred in a construction zone or work zone, you are required by law to add an additional fine of thirty-five dollars ($35.00) to the normal amount of the fine for the cited violation. (Section 304.580, RSMo.) If you received multiple tickets, this requirement applies to each ticket that is so marked. If your offense is not listed on the back of this sheet, call (877) 866-3926 (Toll Free) to determine the amount of your fine.
B. Make payment in U.S. dollars to the "Fine Collection Center," P.O. Box 104540, Jefferson City, MO, 65110. The Center cannot accept partial payments. Please us the pre-addressed envelope. You may pay by money order, check, VISA or MasterCard. Do not send cash. To pay by credit card, complete and sign the form provided by the officer or call (877) 866-3926 to pay by phone.
C. Write the ticket number and your daytime phone number on the front of your check or money order, or in the space indicated on your credit card payment slip.
D. On the back of the ticket, sign it in the "Defendant’s Name" block, fill in your current address and driver’s license number, and return the ticket with your payment within 30 days of the date on the ticket.
3. To Plead Not Guilty:
a. Compete and sign the form provided by the officer and send the signed form and your ticket to the Fine Collection Center. Please use the pre-addressed envelope.
B. The Center will forward your ticket to the county prosecuting attorney.
C. The court for the county where the violation occurred will notify you by mail of your court date.
D. NOTE: The trial court is not bound by the fine schedule used by the Fine Collection Center. If you have any questions about your ticket, call (877) 866-3926 (Toll Free). Hearing impaired use MO Relay, (800) 735-2966.
Warning
1. If you fail to respond to the summons within 30 days:
a. Your driving privileges in this state or in your home state may be suspended until the fine is paid.
B. Your ticket will be returned to the county prosecutor, and you may be charged with failure to pay or appear in addition to any original charges. A warrant may be issued for your arrest.
2. If your check is returned unpaid:
a. A guilty plea will be entered on the ticket and a notice of conviction for the offense will be entered on your driving record. You will still owe the amount of the fine.
B. Your driving privileges may be suspended for failure to pay, and you may be subject to prosecution for the bad check.
3. If your driving privileges are suspended, you will have to pay your ticket and an additional fee to the Missouri Department of Revenue to have your driving privileges reinstated.
NOTE: Be sure to return your ticket whether you are pleading guilty or not guilty.
Certain traffic tickets can NEVER simply be paid by mail in Cape Girardeau County. They ALWAYS require a court appearance and CANNOT be paid through the Fine Collection Center. The offenses include:
1. Speeding 20 miles per hour over the speed limit on Interstate 55; speeding 26 or more miles per hour over the limit on all other highways;
2. Violations with personal injury or property damage (i.e. a traffic accident);
3. Alcohol or drug related offenses;
4. Driving without a valid license or motorcycle validation, driving while suspended or revoked, or driver possessing an altered, forged suspended or revoked license;
5. Fleeing or attempting to elude an officer;
6. Violations of Chapter 303 pertaining to insurance (failing to maintain insurance or failing to display proof of insurance) and violations of Chapter 229 (such things as transporting buildings on the highway without a permit);
7. Violations of Section 302.725, RSMo (driving a commercial vehicle without a valid commercial vehicle operator’s license);
8. Violations requiring the posting of a bond;
9. Violations in which the ticket itself calls for the offender to appear in court;
10. If any ticket issued to the same offender at the same stop is a non-Fine Center violation, all tickets for that stop will be sent to the court, rather than to the Fine Center.
FINE CENTER VIOLATIONS SCHEDULE
(For Any Violation Not Listed, Call Toll Free (877) 866-3926)
1. Speeding Offenses
2. Moving Violations
1. Careless & Imprudent Driving – $125
2. Failed to Drive Right in Single Lane – $75
3. Unsafe Lane Change – $75
4. Improper U-Turn – $75
5. Improper Passing on Right Off Main Roadway – $125
6. Improper Passing: View is Obstructed by Hill, Curve, Tunnel or Bridge
or Viaduct or Within 100 feet of Intersection or Railroad Crossing or
causing Interference With Approaching traffic – $175
7. Followed Too Closely (Cars/Motorcycles/Trucks Under 18,000 lbs; others
see bottom section) – $75
8. Failed to Signal/Improper Signal – $75
9. Improper Turn – $75
10. Failed to Obey Traffic Control Device – $75
11. Failed to Stop Before Turning Right on Red Light – $75
12. Stop Sign Violation – $75
13. Failed to Yield (to non-emergency vehicle) – $75
14. Failed to Yield to Emergency Vehicle – $125
15. Child Passenger Restraint Violation – $65
16. Seat Belt Violation (non-commercial vehicles only; see bottom section for
commercial vehicles) – $10
17. Failed to Stop for School Bus – $125
3. Non-Commercial Vehicle: Registration & Equipment Violations
1. Failed to Register Vehicle – $75
2. Failed to Register Out-of-State Vehicle – $75
3. Failed to Display Plates – $65
4. Displayed Plates of Another – $125
5. No Title Issued – $125
6. Open Title – $75
7. False Registration Statement – $175
8. Failed to Secure Load – $175
9. Failure to Wear Proper Motorcycle Helmet – $25
10. Knowingly Permitted Unauthorized Person to Drive – $75
11. Vision Reducing Material Violation – $75
12. Defective Muffler/Brakes/Horn – $65
13. Operating a Vehicle With Inoperable Taillamps/License Lamps – $65
14. Failed to Have 2 Lighted Headlamps, One on Each Side of Vehicle – $65
4. Commercial Motor Vehicle Violations
1. Weight Registration Violation – $125
2. Failed to Register Non-Resident Commercial Motor Vehicle – $175
3. Followed Too Closely (Trucks 18,000 or More, and Buses) – $175
4. Excess Width/Height/Length – $125
5. Excess Weight (first 500 lbs @ $.02/lb; next 500 lbs @ $.05/lb; each
add’l lb @ $.20/lb, gives the total fine, then add $44.50 in costs
6. Violation of Special Permit – $125
7. Failed to Stop at Weigh Station – $175
8. Failed to Secure Load – $175
9. Failed to Equip to Assure No Load Shift – $175
10. Seat Belt Violation (Commercial Vehicles Only; see top section for
non-commercial vehicles) – $75
11. Improper Motor Carrier Driver’s Record – $125
12. No Medical Certificate – $125
13. Deficient Tires – $125
14. Unsafe Brakes/Suspension – $175
15. No PSC License – $125
WARNING: The above fine schedule applies only to tickets paid through the Fine Collection Center. If a person elects not to pay through the Fine Collection Center, the amount of the fine will ultimately be up to the Court, and may vary from the fine schedule.