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Traffic Ticket Information
A traffic citation has been issued for you to appear before the Cherokee County
District Court. If you fail to pay or otherwise dispose of your case prior to the
court date and fail to appear on your court date, a warrant may be issued for your
arrest, your driver’s license may be suspended by the Department of Public Safety,
the fine may be increased, and any bond posted may be forfeited. The Court date
on your copy of the ticket is NOT A TRIAL DATE; if you desire to plead NOT GUILTY
and want a TRIAL, you must appear in court on your court date to request a TRIAL.
Tickets listed in the chart below may be paid by entering a guilty plea without
a required court appearance, provided you have not been convicted of two or more
traffic offenses in the preceding 12 months. If you wish to avoid a court appearance
and enter a plea of guilty, sign the Defendant’s plea of guilty on the back of your
copy of the ticket and attach your money order or cashier’s check for the amount
of fine and costs indicated and mail it to:
District Clerk
100 Main Street Room 203
Centre, AL 35960
NO PERSONAL CHECKS. Personal checks will be returned causing a delay and late charges
being assessed. Your signed plea of guilty and money order must reach the Clerk’s
office before your court date. If it does not, a warrant may be issued for your
arrest and your driver’s license may be suspended by the Department of Public Safety,
all without further notice to you.
For questions or payment please contact the Alabama Traffic Service Center at traffic.alacourt.gov
or by calling toll free (866) 954-9399. Cases may be paid with a credit or debit
card by calling (877) 252-7294.
TICKETS WHICH MAY BE PAID WITHOUT A COURT APPEARANCE
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Offenses
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Fines and Costs
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Speeding (less than 25 mph over limit)*
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$152.50
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Speeding (more than 25 mph over limit)*
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$172.50
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Driving on the wrong side of the road *
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$162.50
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Failure to yield Right of Way *
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$142.50
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Following too closely *
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$152.50
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Improper backing *
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$152.50
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Improper passing *
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$152.50
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Improper signal *
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$142.50
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Improper turn *
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$152.50
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Running Red Light or Stop Sign *
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$152.50
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Stopping on highway *
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$162.50
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Driving Without a License (Does
NOT include Driving While Revoked, Canceled or Suspended)
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$207.50
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Failure to dim headlights
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$142.50
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Failure to use Safety Belt
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$10.00
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Failure to use Child Restraint
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$157.50
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Improper brakes
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$152.50
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Improper muffler
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$142.50
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Improper or no rearview mirror
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$152.50
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Improper tag
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$157.50
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Improper tires
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$152.50
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Improper window tinting
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$152.50
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No helmet (motorcycle)
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$142.50
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Violating Driver License Restrictions
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$192.50
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Running Stop Sign/Red Light
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$152.50
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Improper Passing of a School or Church Bus
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$232.50
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NOTE: FINE AND COURT COSTS MAY BE GREATER IF NOT PAID BEFORE THE COURT DATE.
Please note that traffic violations not listed in the chart above cannot be paid
without court appearance.
Defensive Driving School Options
If you have been charged with an offense indicated with an asterisk (*) in the
chart above, you may be eligible to have your case dismissed upon completion of
a Defensive Driving course and payment of court costs. This will allow you to avoid
a court appearance and will prevent the accrual of points assessed against your
Alabama Driver’s License as a result of this offense. To qualify for
Driving School
, you must
- Be charged with an offense eligible for
Driving School
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Have no previous citation for a moving violation and have never been
arrested for DUI, and
- Be approved for
Driving School
by the District Attorney.
If you are approved for Defensive Driving your case may be dismissed upon payment
of court costs after your completion of driving school. If you are NOT eligible
for driving school, you may still avoid a court appearance by following the instructions
at the top of this page.
Processing of No-Insurance Tickets
THE DEFENDANT IS NOT REQUIRED TO APPEAR IN COURT IF THE DEFENDANT DID HAVE LIABILITY
INSURANCE COVERING THE VEHICLE DRIVEN AT THE TIME THE TICKET WAS WRITTEN AND IF
THE DEFENDANT CONCLUDES THE MATTER BEFORE THE COURT DATE IN THE MANNER DESCRIBED
BELOW:
For an out-of court settlement, Defendant may show proof of insurance, or mail proof
of insurance, valid before
date of citation, to the Clerk of Court and request for dismissal prior to the assigned court date. If the Defendant appears at
the Clerk's office to provide proof, defendant should bring the original
proof of insurance and a copy of proof of insurance to leave with the Clerk. Defendant
may mail proof of insurance and court costs of $132.50 to: Dwayne Amos, Clerk of
Court,
100 Main Street
Room 203,
Centre, Alabama 35960
. Payment should be made by
cash, cashier's check or money order. No personal checks will be accepted.
IF THE CASE IS NOT CONCLUDED BY THE COURT DATE, THE DEFENDANT MUST APPEAR IN COURT.
IF THE DEFENDANT
DID NOT
HAVE LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERING THE VEHICLE DRIVEN AT THE TIME THE TICKET WAS WRITTEN, THE DEFENDANT MUST
APPEAR IN COURT.
Court appearance is required on the assigned court date if Defendant desires a trial.
Court appearance is required if the Defendant did not have liability insurance specifically covering the
vehicle driven at the time the ticket was written.
HELPFUL INFORMATION:
To avoid further court appearances, Defendant should bring to court all relevant
documents at the first court appearance. For example, if the Defendant did not have
insurance at the time the ticket was written, but has obtained insurance, proof
of the new insurance may result in a lower fine. Also, if the Defendant had insurance
coverage on another vehicle and the vehicle driven at the time of citation was newly
purchased, the Defendant may bring proof of insurance on the other vehicle, proof
of purchase of the newly purchased vehicle described in the ticket and a statement
from the insurance provider that the newly purchased vehicle was covered at the
time of citation, although the Defendant had not received the insurance card.
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