If you can't afford to pay
You may ask the court to reduce the amount you owe if you can't afford to pay your traffic ticket.
Financial Hardship
As part of your request, you must show proof that you do not have the financial means to pay your fine. You may ask the court to consider your ability to pay at any point in the process, but you must enter a plea of guilty or no contest before the court can give you an answer. If you cannot afford the fine amount, you can request a reduction at any time while the fines remain unpaid.
Fines and fees owed from a misdemeanor or felony offense are not eligible for a reduction.
Request Online (Recommended)
The easiest way to request a fine reduction is the MyCitations online request tool. MyCitations lets you enter a plea and make an ability-to-pay request on eligible infractions without going to court. You can use it even if your case is currently in collections.
Along with a reduction, you can use MyCitations to ask for:
- A payment plan
- More time to pay
- Community service in place of fines and fees
If your ability-to-pay request is approved, payment plans will be set at no more than $25 per month.
Do not use the online tool if you want to:
- Contest the citation
- Attend traffic school
- Get a dismissal or reduction of charges with proof of correction
Request by Form
You can also request a fine reduction using form TR-320/CR-320 – Can't Afford to Pay Fine: Traffic and Other Infractions. Please contact the clerk's office for more information about using the form.