In this fast-paced world, maintaining proper traffic safety helps prevent injuries, accidents, and deaths on the road. Following traffic rules also helps reduce traffic congestion, making it easier for everyone to commute. In New Jersey, United States, the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) is responsible for smooth flow of traffic and imposing fines.
From providing homeland security and counter-terrorism services to highway patrol and traffic enforcement, the New Jersey State Police is one of the most diversified and largest state police agencies in the country. Featuring a workforce of more than 2,800 sworn civilian employees, the agency also showcases specialized units such as the K-9, Marine, and Aviation Units. With that being said if you have recently been penalized by the NJSP and want to pay the fine related to the citation issued, then our extensive guide can help you accomplish it seamlessly.
Steps to Pay Citation Online
Before you decide to pay your traffic citation online, be sure to keep your traffic/parking ticket number, the name of the court or the court ID, and the license plate number handy with you, since you need to provide all of the aforementioned information when paying the fine online.
Additionally, the online payment hours are between Monday and Thursday from 4:30 AM to 11:15 PM, Fridays between 4:30 AM and 10:15 PM, Saturdays between 4:30 AM and 3:15 PM, and Sundays between 1 PM and 11:15 PM. With the important terms and conditions out of the way, let us go through the steps you need to fulfill to complete the payment process.
- Begin the online payment process by heading over to the official website here.
- On the landing page, click on “Drivers > Pay Parking/Traffic Ticket”.
- You will be redirected to a new web page where you have to enter your court name/ID, ticket prefix number, ticket number, and license plate number. Once done, click on “Search”.
- The online portal will then fetch your search results, and you will be instructed to pay the requisite fine online.
- Once you have successfully paid your fine, proceed to take a printout of the confirmation page for future reference.
Other Ways to Pay
Besides paying your traffic citation online, you can also decide to pay your fine offline by personally visiting the court office under whose jurisdiction the ticket was issued. You can find the entire list of New Jersey Municipal Courts here. Make sure you match the court ID or name mentioned on your ticket with the one mentioned in the document linked beforehand, and then head over to the provided address to pay your fine.
Additionally, you can get in touch with the New Jersey State Police authorities simply by calling 711 for any immediate assistance or queries.
Different Types of Offenses or Penalties
The NJSP has laid down specific rules and regulations that help dictate the traffic laws on the roads and highways of New Jersey, along with penalties that vary based on the overall degree of offense. Each type of offense is designated with a specific number of infraction points, and your total number of accumulated points will increase based on the increased number of penalties. It should be known that points are only given for moving violations. Some of the popular types of traffic offenses include reckless driving, careless passing, driving on the wrong side, failing to maintain pedestrian safety and speeding.
Keep in mind that once you reach a total of 12 infraction points, your driving license will be suspended. However, you will have the chance to reduce your overall points by three points every year by not receiving a traffic citation within 12 months. Additionally, you can also reduce your infraction points by two points every five years simply by attending a New Jersey driving course. Also, remember that your vehicle insurance rates will also be affected if you start accumulating more points over time.
There are also some additional penalties for individuals who commit a large number of minor traffic offenses or severe traffic offenses. For starters, the state will impose a surcharge, which will be a one-time fine or an annual payment (up to three years). The amount of the fine that will be imposed will depend on the number of infraction points that you have gathered through your traffic offenses. For instance, if you are fined six infraction points or more within three years, then a $150 surcharge will be imposed along with $25 for every additional infraction point. Sometimes, a surcharge can also be imposed for violations such as: driving with an expired license, suspended license, or without any license; operating an uninsured vehicle; or refusing to partake in tests that help measure blood alcohol levels.
