What are Delaware Traffic Tickets?

Delaware traffic tickets are official notices issued to road users by law enforcement officials when they violate state traffic codes. The State of Delaware evaluates driver responsibility by keeping a driving history maintained by the Delaware Department of Motor Vehicles. These records are available on request to inquirers provided they prove a right to it by giving the required information.

In Delaware, public traffic records are also accessible from some third-party websites. These websites streamline the search process by aggregating records from various judicial districts, providing remote access to them and allowing users perform multi-record searches. To use third-party search engines, interested parties are typically expected to 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 neither managed by government custodians nor sponsored by these agencies. Because of this, inquirers may be charged a fee for the service, and the accuracy or completeness of these records may not be guaranteed.

What Does a Traffic Citation Mean?

A traffic citation, otherwise called a traffic summons, is an official document issued to a road user when a traffic violation has occurred. In many ways, a traffic citation is similar to a traffic ticket. However, in contrast to a traffic ticket, it not only identifies an alleged offense but mandates a court appearance where a judge will decide the road user’s guilt and determine the appropriate penalty for the actions. Traffic citations are usually issued for moving violations, not for non-moving infractions that occur when the vehicle is not in motion. If a driver receives a traffic ticket, they may pay a fine to settle the violation, but if they receive a summons, they must appear in court. Typically, a traffic summons is issued following a severe traffic violation or when the driver has a bad driving history and requires a higher penalty than a fine.

How Do I Pay a Traffic Ticket in Delaware?

In Delaware, traffic ticket fines vary by the traffic court addressing a traffic violation and the type of traffic offense committed. Fines that are not paid right away often attract additional penalties in the form of late fees.

Drivers are expected to ensure timely payment and refer to the instructions stated on the ticket. These tickets usually detail the violator’s offense, the fine amount, and what court it should be paid to (usually the presiding traffic court in the jurisdiction it was issued). Drivers should also respond to the traffic tickets within 15–30 days, depending on the court—especially if they are interested in fighting the ticket. Non-compliant drivers are likely to face license suspension and possible arrest.

If the ticket does not mandate a court appearance, it may be paid by “Voluntary assessment”. Paying through this means may be the more convenient option for the driver. However, paying the ticket may be considered as pleading guilty to the violation and points may be added to his record.

Full payment can be made to the Voluntary Assessment Center:

• Online,
• Via mail,
• Over the phone by calling (302) 739–6911,
• Fax,
• In-person, or
• A kiosk location

The individual may also choose to plead “Not guilty” and go to court.

If the individual chooses to pay by mail, a copy of the ticket with the appropriate check or money order made payable to the “State of Delaware” should be enclosed. The envelope containing the payment should have a return address so that the court can send back a receipt.

Payments should be mailed to:

State of Delaware - Voluntary Assessment Center,
P.O. Box 7039
Dover, DE 19903

Fax payments should be made by credit card. The individual may fax a copy of the ticket and credit card details to 302–739–7590.

Can You Pay Delaware Traffic Tickets Online?

Yes, drivers can pay Delaware traffic tickets online. It is a convenient option for resolving a traffic violation in the state, and Delaware state courts typically provide the required service.

How Do I Pay a Ticket Online in Delaware?

Delaware state courts provide an online traffic ticket payment option. Payments can be made using credit cards and electronic checks. The individual is expected to provide a ticket, citation, or case number and last name. The process can then be initiated by visiting the official online ePayment platform of the Delaware Criminal Justice Information System.

How Do I Know If I Have a Traffic Ticket in Delaware?

An individual seeking information on a pending ticket may contact the local traffic court or the local DMV office. The individual will be required to provide a full name and driver’s license number to the clerk to facilitate the search for pending tickets.

For a more thorough search, the driver may view or order a driving record abstract from the State DMV. The driving record contains details of incidents involving a driver and a specific vehicle. It will show details of information regarding traffic tickets such as; speeding tickets, parking tickets, license status, traffic violations, traffic convictions, and accidents.

The state DMV issues driving records based on how far back the requested information goes:

• 3-year driving record
• 5-year driving record
• Full driving record

A copy of a Delaware driving record can be obtained online, via mail, or in person.

• If the individual already has a MyDMV online account in Delaware, the driving record can be accessed online.
• The requester has to print and complete the Personal Information Release Form from the Delaware website and send it via mail.

Mail-in requests can be addressed to:

Division of Motor Vehicles
ATTN: Driver License Administration
P.O. Box 698
Dover, DE 19903

The requester is required to provide the following to obtain driving records per state law:

• A photo ID,
• Full name,
• Address, and
• Driver’s license number

What is the Delaware Traffic Ticketing System?

Delaware, like most states, assigns a designated number of points to a driver’s record for each traffic violation:

• Speeding and driving 1—9 miles per hour (mph) over the posted limit- 2 point
• Speeding and driving 10—14 mph over the posted limit- 4 points
• Speeding and driving 15—19 mph over the posted limit- 5 points
• Speeding and driving 20 mph or more over the posted limit- 5 points
• Reckless Driving- 6 points
• Passing a Stopped School Bus- 6 points
• Operation of a Vehicle Causing Death- 6 points
• Aggressive Driving- 6 points
• Disregarding Stop Sign or Red Light- 3 points

The only exception to assigning points in the state is if the driver is speeding 1–4 MPH over the limit; those 2 points will not be accounted as long as:

• It was the driver’s first offense within any three years
• And the ticket is paid in full through a voluntary assessment.

The Delaware Driver Improvement Problem Driver Program calculates these points and takes actions to reduce an offender’s frequency of committing traffic violation:

• 8 points- The State DMV sends the offender an advisory letter
• 12 points- The offender should complete an attitudinal driving course within 90 days. Otherwise, there will be a 2-month license suspension.
• 14 points- This requires a mandatory 4-month license suspension
• 16 points- A mandatory 6-month license suspension is imposed.
• 18 points- Mandatory 8-month license suspension.
• 20 points- Mandatory 10-month license suspension.
• 22 points- Mandatory 12-month license suspension.

The license becomes eligible for reinstatement when the driver should have completed a behavioral modification/attitudinal-driving course within the previous two years, as of the time of reinstatement.

How Can I Find a Lost Traffic Ticket in Delaware?

Traffic offenders rely on the information provided on their tickets to resolve a traffic violation. If a Delaware traffic ticket is lost, the offender may contact the Voluntary Assessment Center over the phone and provide the required information to track the traffic ticket. The relevant information may include:

• Individual’s full name,
• County where the ticket was issued
• Driver’s license number.

The inquirer may also contact the presiding traffic court in the jurisdiction where the ticket was issued. If it was issued in a municipality, the individual might contact the right Alderman’s court:

• Bethany Beach: (302) 537–3891.
• Rehoboth: (302) 227–7917.
• Laurel: (302) 875–2855.
• Newport: (302) 994–6403.
• Newark: (302) 366–7028.
• Dewey Beach: (302) 227–6363.

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

When an individual receives a traffic ticket in Delaware, the Division of Motor Vehicles adds points to the offender’s driving record, and these may remain for up to two years.

These license points will remain on the driving record for 12 months from the date of conviction and credited at a full point value.

When the 12 months is over, the points will then be credited at half-point value for another 12 months, provided a severe conviction didn’t lead to the traffic points. As such, if the driver received 8 points in the first year, in the following year, it may be downgraded to 4.

Is a Summons Worse Than a Ticket in Delaware?

A summons in Delaware usually orders the road user to appear in a traffic court. This is issued if the offense is deemed too severe to be dismissed with a fine. In Delaware, most traffic cases are treated as criminal offenses; Hence, the individual may need to gather the necessary information or documents as evidence and even have a subpoena issued. Therefore, a summons may be considered worse than a ticket in Delaware.